U.S. patent number 10,827,357 [Application Number 16/478,796] was granted by the patent office on 2020-11-03 for method for controlling service set for wireless lan and apparatus therefor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The grantee listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Bokun Choi, Jong-Mu Choi, Kiyeong Jeong, In-Sick Jung, Junyeop Jung, Doosuk Kang, Moonsoo Kim, Seonghwan Kim, Sunkey Lee, Jun-Young Park.
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United States Patent |
10,827,357 |
Kim , et al. |
November 3, 2020 |
Method for controlling service set for wireless LAN and apparatus
therefor
Abstract
The purpose of the present invention is to control a service set
in a wireless communication system. The wireless communication
system comprises: a first access point (AP) comprising a first
wireless fidelity (WiFi) communication circuit for providing a
first basic service set (BSS); and a second AP comprising a second
WiFi communication circuit for providing a second BSS. The first
WiFi communication circuit wirelessly receives, from a first mobile
station, a first connection request including information on a
wireless LAN standard of the first mobile station, wirelessly
provides a second mobile station with at least a part of the
information, wirelessly receives, from the second mobile station,
an approval of a connection of the first mobile station thereto,
and after receiving the approval, disconnects a first wireless
connection from the first mobile station. The second WiFi
communication circuit wirelessly receives an approval from the
second mobile station, wirelessly receives a second connection
request from the first mobile station, establishes a second
wireless connection with the first mobile station on the basis of
the approval, and exchanges data with the first mobile station
through the second wireless connection. Other embodiments are also
possible.
Inventors: |
Kim; Moonsoo (Seoul,
KR), Kim; Seonghwan (Incheon, KR), Park;
Jun-Young (Suwon-si, KR), Jeong; Kiyeong
(Chungcheongnam-do, KR), Jung; In-Sick (Suwon-si,
KR), Jung; Junyeop (Yongin-si, KR), Lee;
Sunkey (Seongnam-si, KR), Choi; Jong-Mu
(Gunpo-si, KR), Kang; Doosuk (Suwon-si,
KR), Choi; Bokun (Seoul, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd |
Suwon-si |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
(Suwon-si, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005160023 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/478,796 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2018 |
PCT
Filed: |
January 16, 2018 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/KR2018/000743 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
July 17, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/135836 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
July 26, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200059834 A1 |
Feb 20, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 17, 2017 [KR] |
|
|
10-2017-0008067 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W
36/0072 (20130101); H04W 48/02 (20130101); H04W
12/0802 (20190101); H04W 36/0038 (20130101); H04W
12/0804 (20190101); H04W 84/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04W
36/00 (20090101); H04W 48/02 (20090101); H04W
12/08 (20090101); H04W 84/12 (20090101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016/167438 |
|
Oct 2016 |
|
WO |
|
2017/003847 |
|
Jan 2017 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
"80211r, 802.11K, 802.11V, 802.11w Fast Transition Roaming",
Enterprise Mobility 8.1. Design Guide, Jul. 11, 2017, 28 pages.
cited by applicant .
Abhijit Sarma et al., "Deciding Handover Points Based on
Context-Aware Load Balancing in a WiFi-WiMAX Heterogeneous Network
Environment", IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, vol. 65,
No. 1, Jan. 2016, p. 348-357. cited by applicant .
International Search Report dated Apr. 30, 2018 in connection with
International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2018/000743, 2 pages.
cited by applicant .
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority dated Apr.
30, 2018 in connection with International Patent Application No.
PCT/KR2018/000743, 6 pages. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Nawaz; Asad M
Assistant Examiner: Ali; Syed
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A wireless communication system comprising: a first access point
(AP) comprising a first wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication
circuit providing a first basic service set (BSS); and a second AP
configured to be wirelessly connected with the first AP and
comprising a second Wi-Fi communication circuit providing a second
BSS, wherein the first Wi-Fi communication circuit is configured
to: wirelessly receive a first connection request from a mobile
station; wirelessly exchange credential information with the mobile
station; block a wireless connection with the mobile station after
exchanging the credential information; and provide at least some of
the credential information to the second AP, the second Wi-Fi
communication circuit is configured to: receive at least the some
of the credential information from the first AP; wirelessly receive
a second connection request from the mobile station; establish a
wireless connection with the mobile station using at least the some
of the credential information without exchanging additional
credential information with the mobile station; and exchange data
with the mobile station through the established wireless
connection, wherein the first Wi-Fi communication circuit is
configured to provide the first BSS using a first frequency band
and a first medium access control (MAC) address, and the second
Wi-Fi communication circuit is configured to provide the second BSS
using the first frequency band and a second MAC address different
from the first MAC address, and wherein the second Wi-Fi
communication circuit provides, to the mobile station, a data
packet comprising a frame that comprises a header comprising
information for supporting a plurality of wireless local area
network (WLAN) standards and a payload carrying data.
2. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first Wi-Fi communication circuit is configured to provide the
first BSS using a first frequency band, and the second Wi-Fi
communication circuit is configured to provide the second BSS using
a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band.
3. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the credential information comprises at least one of a security
type, a password, a cryptographic key, a key generated and encoded
by an AP, a public key, or a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).
4. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first Wi-Fi communication circuit transmits a first beacon
frame on a first cycle, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit
transmits a second beacon frame on a second cycle longer than the
first cycle.
5. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the first Wi-Fi communication circuit transmits information about
the second AP to the mobile station, and the second Wi-Fi
communication circuit establishes the second wireless connection
with the mobile station without a procedure for additionally
authenticating the mobile station.
6. A wireless communication system comprising: a first access point
(AP) comprising a first wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication
circuit configured to provide a first basic service set (BSS); and
a second AP configured to be wirelessly connected with the first AP
and comprising a second Wi-Fi communication circuit configured to
provide a second BSS, wherein the first Wi-Fi communication circuit
is configured to: wirelessly receive, from a first mobile station,
a first connection request comprising information about a Wi-Fi
protocol version of the first mobile station; wirelessly provide at
least part of the information to a second mobile station;
wirelessly receive an approval for a connection to the first mobile
station from the second mobile station; and block a wireless
connection with the first mobile station after receiving the
approval, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit is configured
to: wirelessly receive the approval from the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit; wirelessly receive a second connection
request from the first mobile station; establish a wireless
connection with the first mobile station on the basis of the
approval; and exchange data with the first mobile station through
the established wireless connection, wherein the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit is configured to provide the first BSS using
a first frequency band and a first medium access control (MAC)
address, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit is configured
to provide the second BSS using the first frequency band and a
second MAC address different from the first MAC address, and
wherein the second Wi-Fi communication circuit provides, to the
mobile station, a data packet comprising a frame that comprises a
header comprising information for supporting a plurality of
wireless local area network (WLAN) standards and a payload carrying
data.
7. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the first Wi-Fi communication circuit provides the first BSS using
a first frequency band, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit
provides the second BSS using a second frequency band higher than
the first frequency band.
8. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the information comprises at least one of a security type, a
password, a cryptographic key, a key generated and encoded by an
AP, a public key, and a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).
9. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 6, wherein
the first Wi-Fi communication circuit transmits a first beacon
frame on a first cycle, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit
transmits a second beacon frame on a second cycle longer than the
first cycle.
10. The wireless communication system as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the first Wi-Fi communication circuit transmits information
about the second AP to the mobile station, and the second Wi-Fi
communication circuit establishes the second wireless connection
with the mobile station without a procedure for additionally
authenticating the mobile station.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a 371 of International Application No.
PCT/KR2018/000743 filed on Jan. 16, 2018, which claims priority to
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0008067 filed on Jan. 17,
2017, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference
in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The disclosure relates to a wireless local area network (WLAN)
service and, more particularly, to a method for controlling a
service set for a WLAN.
2. Description of Related Art
The development of wireless communication technology is one
significant innovation in modern society. To support wireless
communication systems, various communication standards may be used,
among which IEEE 802.11 or wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) may be used as
a communication standard.
In a Wi-Fi network, mobile stations may be connected to an access
point (AP) to transmit and receive data. With limited radio
resources, the AP may have difficulty in efficiently providing data
to connected mobile stations.
Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a method and an
electronic device for controlling a base service set (BSS) in a
wireless communication system.
Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a method and an
electronic device for functionally classifying and managing a
plurality of BSSs.
Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a method and an
electronic device for providing high throughput to a mobile
station.
Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a method and an
electronic device for enabling a mobile station to efficiently
perform disconnection from APs and to establish a connection to
APs.
SUMMARY
A wireless communication system according to various embodiments of
the disclosure may include: a first access point (AP) configured to
include a first wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) communication circuit
providing a first basic service set (BSS); and a second AP
configured to include a second Wi-Fi communication circuit
providing a second BSS, wherein the first Wi-Fi communication
circuit may: wirelessly receive a first connection request from a
mobile station; wirelessly exchange credential information with the
mobile station; block a wireless connection with the mobile station
after exchanging the credential information; and provide at least
some of the credential information to the second AP, and the second
Wi-Fi communication circuit may: receive at least the some of the
credential information from the first AP; wirelessly receive a
second connection request from the mobile station; establish a
wireless connection with the mobile station using at least the some
of the credential information without exchanging additional
credential information with the mobile station; and exchange data
with the mobile station through the established wireless
connection.
A device of an AP according to various embodiments of the
disclosure may include: a communication unit configured to
wirelessly receive a connection request from a mobile station and
to wirelessly exchange credential information with the mobile
station; and a processor configured to block a wireless connection
with the mobile station after exchanging the credential
information. The communication unit may provide at least some of
the credential information to a second AP so that the second AP may
establish a wireless connection with the mobile station without
exchanging additional credential information with the mobile
station.
A device of an AP according to various embodiments of the
disclosure may include: a communication unit configured to receive
at least some credential information from a first AP and to receive
a connection request from a mobile station; and a processor
configured to establish a wireless connection with the mobile
station, in response to the connection request, using at least the
some of the credential information without exchanging additional
credential information with the mobile station. The communication
unit may exchange data with the mobile station through the wireless
connection.
A wireless communication system according to various embodiments of
the disclosure may include: a first AP configured to include a
first Wi-Fi communication circuit to provide a first BSS; and a
second AP configured to include a second Wi-Fi communication
circuit to provide a second BSS, wherein the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit may: wirelessly receive, from a first mobile
station, a first connection request including information about a
WLAN standard of the first mobile station; wirelessly provide at
least part of the information to a second mobile station;
wirelessly receive an approval for a connection to the first mobile
station from the second mobile station; and block a first wireless
connection with the first mobile station after receiving the
approval, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit may:
wirelessly receive the approval from the second mobile station;
wirelessly receive a second connection request from the first
mobile station; establish a second wireless connection with the
first mobile station on the basis of the approval; and exchange
data with the first mobile station through the second wireless
connection.
A device of an AP in a wireless communication system according to
various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a communication
unit configured to wirelessly receive, from a first mobile station,
a first connection request including information about a Wi-Fi
protocol version of the first mobile station, to wirelessly provide
at least part of the information to a second mobile station, and to
wirelessly receive an approval for a connection to the first mobile
station from the second mobile station; and a processor configured
to block a first wireless connection with the first mobile station
after receiving the approval and to establish a second wireless
connection between the first mobile station and a second AP.
A device of an AP in a wireless communication system according to
various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a communication
unit configured to wirelessly receive an approval for a connection
of a first mobile station to the AP from a second mobile station
and to wirelessly receive a connection request from the first
mobile station; and a controller configured to establish a wireless
connection with the first mobile station on the basis of the
approval, wherein the communication unit may exchange data with the
mobile station through the wireless connection.
An operating method of an AP in a wireless communication system
according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include:
receiving at least some credential information from a first AP;
receiving a connection request from a mobile station; establishing
a wireless connection with the mobile station using at least the
some of the credential information without exchanging additional
credential information with the mobile station in response to the
connection request; and exchanging data with the mobile station
through the wireless connection.
An operating method of an AP in a wireless communication system
according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include:
wirelessly receiving a first connection request including
information about a Wi-Fi protocol version of a first mobile
station from the first mobile station; wirelessly providing at
least part of the information to a second mobile station;
wirelessly receiving an approval for a connection to the first
mobile station from the second mobile station; establishing a
second wireless connection between the first mobile station and a
second AP by blocking a first wireless connection with the first
mobile station after receiving the approval.
According to the disclosure, at least one access point (AP) may
functionally classify and manage a plurality of basic service sets
(BSSs), thereby providing high throughput for a mobile station and
enabling a mobile station to efficiently perform a handover between
APs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a network environment including an electronic
device according to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device
according to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a program module according
to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of a basic service set (BSS)
according to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 5 illustrates a case where one access point (AP) operates a
plurality of BSSs according to various embodiments of the
disclosure;
FIG. 6 illustrates a case where a plurality of APs operates
respective BSSs according to various embodiments of the
disclosure;
FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating an AP device according to
various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 7B illustrate various modules included in a processor of a
gatekeeper AP according to various embodiments of the
disclosure;
FIG. 8 is a signal flowchart showing that a mobile station is
connected to a data-communication AP according to various
embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 9 illustrates a list for controlling a connection of a mobile
station to an AP according to various embodiments of the
disclosure;
FIG. 10A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP for exchanging credential information between APs according to
various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 10B is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a
data-communication AP for exchanging credential information between
APs according to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP for providing a connection to a mobile station according to
various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 11B is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a
data-communication AP for providing a connection for a mobile
station depending on a user approval according to various
embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 12 is a signal flowchart showing that a mobile station is
connected to a data-communication AP via a server according to
various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 13 is a signal flowchart showing that a mobile station is
connected to a data-communication AP using roaming according to
various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 14 is a signal flowchart showing that a data-communication AP
determines whether to connect to a mobile station according to
various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE
802.11n attempts a connection to a data-communication AP according
to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE
802.11g attempts a connection to a data-communication AP according
to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE
802.11b attempts a connection to a data-communication AP according
to various embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station attempts a connection to a
data-communication AP in a high-frequency band according to various
embodiments of the disclosure;
FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B schematically illustrate a signal transmitted
by each antenna of one AP when the AP operates a plurality of BSSs;
and
FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B schematically illustrate a signal transmitted
by each AP when each of a plurality of APs operates a BSS.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present document are
mentioned below with reference to the accompanying drawings. An
embodiment and the terms used in this do not intend to limit the
technology mentioned in the present document to a specific
embodiment form, and should be construed as including various
changes of the corresponding embodiment, equivalents thereof,
and/or alternatives thereof. In the drawings, like reference
symbols may denote like constituent elements. The expression of a
singular form may include the expression of a plural form unless
otherwise dictating clearly in context. In the present document,
the expressions "A or B", "at least one of A and/or B", etc. may
include all available combinations of words enumerated together.
The expressions "1st", "2nd", "first", "second", etc. may modify
corresponding constituent elements irrespective of order and/or
importance, and are just used to distinguish one constituent
element from another constituent element and do not limit the
corresponding constituent elements. When it is mentioned that any
(e.g., 1st) constituent element is "(operatively or
communicatively) coupled with/to" or is "connected to" another
(e.g., 2nd) constituent element, the any constituent element may be
directly coupled to the another constituent element, or be coupled
through a further constituent element (e.g., a third constituent
element).
The expression "configured (or set) to.about." used in the present
document may be used interchangeably with, for example, "suitable
for.about.", "having the capacity to.about.", "designed to.about.",
"adapted to.about.", "made to.about.", or "capable of.about." in a
hardware or software manner in accordance to circumstances. In any
situation, the expression "device configured to.about." may
represent that the device is "capable of.about." together with
other devices or components. For example, the phrase "processor
configured (or set) to perform A, B and C" may represent an
exclusive processor (e.g., embedded processor) for performing a
corresponding operation, or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a
central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP))
capable of performing corresponding operations by executing one or
more software programs stored in a memory device.
An electronic device according to various embodiments of the
present document may, for example, include at least one of a
smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, a
video phone, an electronic book reader, a desktop PC, a laptop PC,
a netbook computer, a workstation, a server, a portable digital
assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MPEG-1
audio layer-3 (MP3) player, a medical device, a camera or a
wearable device. The wearable device may include at least one of an
accessory type (e.g., a watch, a ring, a wristlet, an anklet, a
necklace, glasses, a contact lens or a head-mounted-device (HMD)),
a fabric or clothing integrated type (e.g., electronic clothes), a
human-body mount type (e.g., a skin pad or tattoo) or a bio
implantation type (e.g., an implantable circuit). According to
certain embodiment, the electronic device may, for example, include
at least one of a television (TV), a digital versatile disc (DVD)
player, an audio system, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a
cleaner, an oven, a microwave, a washing machine, an air cleaner, a
set-top box, a home automation control panel, a security control
panel, a media box (for example, Samsung HomeSync.TM., Apple TV.TM.
or Google TV.TM.), a game console (e.g., Xbox.TM. or
PlayStation.TM.), an electronic dictionary, an electronic locking
system, a camcorder or an electronic frame.
In another embodiment, the electronic device may include at least
one of various medical devices (e.g., various portable medical
measurement devices (e.g., a blood glucose sensor, a heat rate
sensor, a blood pressure monitor, a body temperature meter, etc.),
magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), computed tomography (CT), a imaging equipment, an ultrasonic
instrument, etc.)), a navigation device, a global navigation
satellite system (GNSS), an event data recorder (EDR), a flight
data recorder (FDR), a car infotainment device, an electronic
equipment for ship (e.g., a vessel navigation device, a gyro
compass, etc.), avionics, a security device, a car head unit, an
industrial or domestic robot, a drone, an automatic teller's
machine (ATM) of a financial institution, point of sales (POS) of
shops, an internet of things (IoT) device (e.g., an electric bulb,
various sensors, a sprinkler device, a fire alarm, a thermostat, a
streetlight, a toaster, an exerciser, a hot water tank, a heater, a
boiler, etc.). According to certain embodiment, the electronic
device may include at least one of a part of furniture, a
building/structure or a car, an electronic board, an electronic
signature receiving device, a projector or various metering devices
(e.g., tap water, electricity, gas, radio wave metering devices or
the like). In various embodiments, the electronic device may be
flexible, or be a combination of two or more of the aforementioned
various devices. The electronic device according to an embodiment
of the present document is not limited to the aforementioned
devices. In the present document, the term `user` may denote a
person who uses the electronic device or a device (e.g., an
artificial-intelligent electronic device) which uses the electronic
device.
Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 101 within a network
environment 100 in various embodiments is described. The electronic
device 101 may include a bus 110, a processor 120, a memory 130, an
input output interface 150, a display 160, and a communication
interface 170. In some embodiment, the electronic device 101 may
omit at least one of the constituent elements or additionally have
another constituent element. The bus 110 may, for example, include
a circuit coupling the constituent elements 110, 120, 150, 160 and
170 with one another and forwarding communication (e.g., a control
message or data) between the constituent elements. The processor
120 may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), an
application processor (AP) or a communication processor (CP). The
processor 120 may, for example, execute operation or data
processing for control and/or communication of at least one another
constituent element of the electronic device 101.
According to various embodiments, the processor 120 may transmit a
connection request to the AP 102 via the communication interface
170. The processor 120 may exchange control information (e.g.,
credential information) and/or data with the AP 102 via the
communication interface 170. In one example, the processor 120 may
control the communication interface 170 to transmit a connection
request signal to the AP 102.
According to various embodiments, the processor 120 may receive a
request message from the AP 102 via the communication interface
170. The processor 120 may transmit a response message to the AP
102 via the communication interface 170 in response to the request.
In one example, the processor 120 may control the communication
interface 170 to transmit a response message to the AP 102 in
response to the request message received from the AP 102.
The memory 130 may include a volatile and/or non-volatile memory.
The memory 130 may, for example, store a command or data related to
at least one another constituent element of the electronic device
101. According to an embodiment, the memory 130 may store a
software and/or program 140. The program 140 may, for example,
include a kernel 141, a middleware 143, an application programming
interface (API) 145, an application program (or "application") 147,
and the like. At least some of the kernel 141, the middleware 143
or the API 145 may be called an operating system (OS). The kernel
141 may, for example, control or manage system resources (e.g., bus
110, processor 120, memory 130, and the like) that are used for
executing operations or functions implemented in other programs
(e.g., middleware 143, API 145 or application program 147). Also,
the kernel 141 may provide an interface through which the
middleware 143, the API 145 or the application program 147 may
control or manage the system resources of the electronic device 101
by accessing the individual constituent element of the electronic
device 101. According to various embodiments, the memory 130 may
store credential information exchanged between the electronic
device 101 and the AP 102.
The middleware 143 may, for example, perform a relay role of
enabling the API 145 or the application program 147 to communicate
and exchange data with the kernel 141. Also, the middleware 143 may
process one or more work requests that are received from the
application program 147, in accordance with priority. For example,
the middleware 143 may grant priority capable of using the system
resources (e.g., the bus 110, the processor 120, the memory 130 or
the like) of the electronic device 101 to at least one of the
application programs 147, and process one or more work requests.
The API 145 is, for example, an interface enabling the application
program 147 to control a function provided by the kernel 141 or the
middleware 143 and may, for example, include at least one interface
or function (e.g., an instruction) for file control, window
control, image processing, character control or the like.
The input output interface 150 may forward a command or data
inputted from a user or another external device, to another
constituent element(s) of the electronic device 101, or output a
command or data received from the another constituent element(s) of
the electronic device 101, to the user or another external
device.
The display 160 may, for example, include a liquid crystal display
(LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light
emitting diode (OLED) display, a microelectromechanical systems
(MEMS) display or an electronic paper display. The display 160 may,
for example, display various contents (e.g., a text, an image, a
video, an icon, a symbol and/or the like) to a user. The display
160 may include a touch screen. And, for example, the display 160
may receive a touch, gesture, proximity or hovering input that uses
an electronic pen or a part of the user's body.
The communication interface 170 may, for example, establish
communication between the electronic device 101 and an external
device (e.g., the first external electronic device 102, the second
external electronic device 104 or the server 106). For example, the
communication interface 170 may be coupled to a network 162 through
wireless communication or wired communication, to communicate with
the external device (e.g., the second external electronic device
104 or the server 106).
The wireless communication may, for example, include a cellular
communication that uses at least one of long term evolution (LTE),
LTE-advanced (LTE-A), code division multiple access (CDMA),
wideband CDMA (WCDMA), universal mobile telecommunications system
(UMTS), wireless broadband (WiBro), global system for mobile
communications (GSM) and the like. According to an embodiment, the
wireless communication may, for example, include at least one of
wireless fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth low energy
(BLE), Zigbee, near field communication (NFC), magnetic secure
transmission (MST), radio frequency (RF) or body area network
(BAN). According to an embodiment, the wireless communication may
include GNSS. The GNSS may, for example, be a global positioning
system (GPS), a global navigation satellite system (Glonass),
Beidou navigation satellite system (hereinafter, "Beidou")) or
Galileo, the European global satellite-based navigation system.
Hereinafter, the "GPS" may be used interchangeably with the "GNSS".
The wired communication may, for example, include at least one of a
universal serial bus (USB), a high definition multimedia interface
(HDMI), a recommended standard-232 (RS-232), power line
communication (PLC), a plain old telephone service (POTS), and the
like. The network 162 may include at least one of a
telecommunications network, for example, a computer network (e.g.,
local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)), the Internet
or a telephone network.
The external electronic device 104 may be a device of the same or
different type from that of the electronic device 101. According to
various embodiments, all or some of operations executed in the
electronic device 101 may be executed in another one electronic
device or a plurality of electronic devices (e.g., the electronic
devices 102 and 104 or the server 106). According to an embodiment,
where the electronic device 101 performs some function or service
automatically or in response to a request, the electronic device
101 may, instead of or additionally to executing the function or
service in itself, send a request for execution of at least a
partial function associated with this to another device (e.g.,
electronic device 102, 104 or server 106). The another electronic
device (e.g., electronic device 102, 104 or server 106) may execute
the requested function or additional function, and forward the
execution result to the electronic device 101. The electronic
device 101 may process the received result as it is or
additionally, to provide the requested function or service. For
this, a cloud computing, distributed computing or client-server
computing technology may be used, for example.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an electronic device
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 2, an electronic device 201 may, for example,
include the entire or part of the electronic device 101 illustrated
in FIG. 1. The electronic device 201 may include one or more
processors (e.g., application processor (APs)) 210, a communication
module 220, a subscriber identification module 224, a memory 230, a
sensor module 240, an input device 250, a display 260, an interface
270, an audio module 280, a camera module 291, a power management
module 295, a battery 296, an indicator 297 and a motor 298.
The processor 210 may, for example, drive an operating system or an
application program to control a majority of hardware or software
constituent elements coupled to the processor 210, and may perform
various data processing and operations. The processor 210 may be,
for example, implemented as a system on chip (SoC). According to an
embodiment, the processor 210 may further include a graphic
processing unit (GPU) and/or an image signal processor (ISP). The
processor 210 may include at least some (e.g., cellular module 221)
of the constituent elements illustrated in FIG. 2 as well. The
processor 210 may load a command or data received from at least one
of the other constituent elements (e.g., non-volatile memory), to a
volatile memory, to process the loaded command or data, and store
the result data in the non-volatile memory.
According to various embodiments, the processor 210 may control the
communication module 220 to transmit a connection request to the
AP. The processor 210 may exchange control information (e.g.,
credential information) and/or data with the AP 102 via the
communication module 220. In addition, the processor 210 may
control the communication module 220 to receive a request message
from the AP 102. The processor 210 may control the communication
module 220 to transmit a response message to the AP 102 in response
to the request message received from the AP 102.
The communication module 220 may, for example, have the same or
similar construction with the communication interface 170. The
communication module 220 may, for example, include a cellular
module 221, a WiFi module 223, a Bluetooth module 225, a GNSS
module 227, a near field communication (NFC) module 228, and a
radio frequency (RF) module 229. The cellular module 221 may, for
example, provide voice telephony, video telephony, a text service,
an Internet service or the like through a telecommunication
network. According to an embodiment, the cellular module 221 may
perform the distinction and authentication of the electronic device
201 within the telecommunication network, by using the subscriber
identification module (e.g., SIM card) 224. According to an
embodiment, the cellular module 221 may perform at least some
functions among functions that the processor 210 may provide.
According to an embodiment, the cellular module 221 may include a
communication processor (CP). According to some embodiment, at
least some (e.g., two or more) of the cellular module 221, the WiFi
module 223, the Bluetooth module 225, the GNSS module 227 or the
NFC module 228 may be included within one integrated chip (IC) or
IC package. The RF module 229 may, for example, transceive a
communication signal (e.g., RF signal). The RF module 229 may, for
example, include a transceiver, a power amplifier module (PAM), a
frequency filter, a low noise amplifier (LNA), an antenna or the
like. According to another embodiment, at least one of the cellular
module 221, the WiFi module 223, the Bluetooth module 225, the GNSS
module 227 or the NFC module 228 may transceive an RF signal
through a separate RF module. The subscriber identification module
224 may, for example, include a card including a subscriber
identification module and/or an embedded SIM. And, the subscriber
identification module 224 may include unique identification
information (e.g., integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID)) or
subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber
identity (IMSI)).
The memory 230 (e.g., memory 130) may, for example, include an
internal memory 232 or an external memory 234. The internal memory
232 may, for example, include at least one of a volatile memory
(e.g., a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM),
a synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) or the like) and a non-volatile
memory (e.g., one time programmable read only memory (OTPROM), a
programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically
EPROM (EEPROM), a mask ROM, a flash ROM, a flash memory, a hard
drive or a solid state drive (SSD)). The external memory 234 may
include a flash drive, for example, a compact flash (CF), a secure
digital (SD), a micro-SD, a mini-SD, an extreme Digital (xD), a
Multi Media Card (MMC), a memory stick or the like. The external
memory 234 may be operatively or physically coupled with the
electronic device 201 through various interfaces.
According to various embodiments, the memory 230 may store
credential information exchanged between the AP and the electronic
device 210.
The sensor module 240 may, for example, measure a physical quantity
or sense an activation state of the electronic device 201, to
convert measured or sensed information into an electrical signal.
The sensor module 240 may, for example, include at least one of a
gesture sensor 240A, a gyro sensor 240B, a barometer 240C, a
magnetic sensor 240D, an acceleration sensor 240E, a grip sensor
240F, a proximity sensor 240G, a color sensor 240H (e.g., a red,
green, blue (RGB) sensor), a biometric (medical) sensor 240I, a
temperature/humidity sensor 240J, an ambient light (illuminance)
sensor 240K or an ultra violet (UV) sensor 240M. Additionally or
alternatively, the sensor module 240 may, for example, include an
E-nose sensor, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, an
electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor, an electrocardiogram (ECG)
sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, an iris scan sensor and/or a
finger scan sensor. The sensor module 240 may further include a
control circuit for controlling at least one or more sensors
belonging therein. In some embodiment, the electronic device 201
may further include a processor configured to control the sensor
module 240 as a part of the processor 210 or separately, thereby
controlling the sensor module 240 while the processor 210 is in a
sleep state.
The input device 250 may, for example, include a touch panel 252, a
(digital) pen sensor 254, a key 256 or an ultrasonic input device
258. The touch panel 252 may, for example, use at least one scheme
among a capacitive overlay scheme, a pressure sensitive scheme, an
infrared beam scheme or an ultrasonic scheme. Also, the touch panel
252 may further include a control circuit as well. The touch panel
252 may further include a tactile layer, to provide a tactile
response to a user. The (digital) pen sensor 254 may, for example,
be a part of the touch panel 252, or include a separate sheet for
recognition. The key 256 may, for example, include a physical
button, an optical key or a keypad. The ultrasonic input device 258
may sense an ultrasonic wave generated in an input tool, through a
microphone (e.g., microphone 288), to confirm data corresponding to
the sensed ultrasonic wave.
The display 260 (e.g., the display 160) may include a panel 262, a
hologram device 264, a projector 266, a display driver interface
(DDI) 268, and/or a control circuit for controlling them. The panel
262 may, for example, be implemented to be flexible, transparent,
or wearable. The panel 262 may be constructed as one or more
modules together with the touch panel 252. According to one
embodiment, the panel 262 may include a pressure sensor (or force
sensor) to measure the strength of pressure from a user's touch.
The pressure sensor may be formed with the touch panel 252 in a
single body, or may be provided as one or more sensors separate
from the touch panel 252.
The hologram device 264 may show a three-dimensional image to the
air using an interference of light. The projector 266 may project
light onto a screen, to display an image. The screen may, for
example, be located inside or outside the electronic device 201.
The interface 270 may, for example, include an HDMI 272, a USB 274,
an optical interface 276 or a D-subminiature (D-sub) 278. The
interface 270 may, for example, be included in the communication
interface 170 illustrated in FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively,
the interface 270 may, for example, include a Mobile
High-definition Link (MHL) interface, an SD card/Multi Media Card
(MMC) interface or an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) standard
interface.
The audio module 280 may, for example, convert a sound and an
electrical signal interactively. At least some constituent elements
of the audio module 280 may be, for example, included in the input
output interface 150 illustrated in FIG. 1. The audio module 280
may for example, process sound information that is inputted or
outputted through a speaker 282, a receiver 284, an earphone 286,
the microphone 288 or the like. The camera module 291 is, for
example, a device able to photograph a still image and a video.
According to an embodiment, the camera module 291 may include one
or more image sensors (e.g., front sensor or rear sensor), a lens,
an image signal processor (ISP) or a flash (e.g., an LED, a xenon
lamp or the like). The power management module 295 may, for
example, manage the electric power of the electronic device 201.
According to an embodiment, the power management module 295 may
include a power management integrated circuit (PMIC), a charger IC
or a battery or fuel gauge. The PMIC may, for example, employ a
wired and/or wireless charging scheme. The wireless charging scheme
may, for example, include a magnetic resonance scheme, a magnetic
induction scheme, an electromagnetic wave scheme or the like. And,
the wireless charging scheme may further include a supplementary
circuit for wireless charging, for example, a coil loop, a
resonance circuit, a rectifier or the like. The battery gauge may,
for example, measure a level of the battery 296, a voltage being in
charge, an electric current or a temperature. The battery 296 may,
for example, include a rechargeable battery and/or a solar
battery.
The indicator 297 may display a specific state, for example, a
booting state, a message state, a charging state or the like of the
electronic device 201 or a part (e.g., processor 210) of the
electronic device 201. The motor 298 may convert an electrical
signal into a mechanical vibration, and may generate a vibration, a
haptic effect or the like. The electronic device 201 may, for
example, include a mobile TV support device (e.g., GPU) capable of
processing media data according to the standards of digital
multimedia broadcasting (DMB), digital video broadcasting (DVB),
mediaFlo.TM. or the like. Each of the constituent elements
described in the present document may consist of one or more
components, and a name of the corresponding constituent element may
be varied according to the kind of the electronic device. In
various embodiments, the electronic device (e.g., electronic device
201) may omit some constituent elements, or further include
additional constituent elements, or combine some of the constituent
elements to configure one entity, but identically perform functions
of corresponding constituent elements before combination.
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a program module according to
various embodiments.
According to an embodiment, the program module 310 (e.g., the
program 140) may include an operating system (OS) controlling
resources related to an electronic device (e.g., the electronic
device 101) and/or various applications (e.g., the application
program 147) run on the operating system. The operating system may,
for example, include Android.TM., iOS.TM., Windows.TM.,
Symbian.TM., Tizen.TM., or Bada.TM..
Referring to FIG. 3, the program module 310 may include a kernel
320 (e.g., the kernel 141), a middleware 330 (e.g., the middleware
143), an API 360 (e.g., the API 145), and/or an application 370
(e.g., the application program 147). At least a part of the program
module 310 may be preloaded onto an electronic device, or be
downloadable from an external electronic device (e.g., the
electronic device 102 or 104, the server 106, etc.).
The kernel 320 may, for example, include a system resource manager
321 and/or a device driver 323. The system resource manager 321 may
perform control of a system resource, allocation thereof, or
recovery thereof. According to an embodiment, the system resource
manager 321 may include a process management unit, a memory
management unit, or a file system management unit. The device
driver 323 may, for example, include a display driver, a camera
driver, a Bluetooth driver, a shared memory driver, a USB driver, a
keypad driver, a WiFi driver, an audio driver, or an inter-process
communication (IPC) driver. The middleware 330 may, for example,
provide a function that the application 370 needs in common, or
provide various functions to the application 370 through the API
360 wherein the application 370 may make use of restricted system
resources within an electronic device. According to an embodiment,
the middleware 330 may include at least one of a runtime library
335, an application manager 341, a window manager 342, a multimedia
manager 343, a resource manager 344, a power manager 345, a
database manager 346, a package manager 347, a connectivity manager
348, a notification manager 349, a location manager 350, a graphic
manager 351, or a security manager 352.
The runtime library 335 may, for example, include a library module
that a compiler utilizes so as to add a new function through a
programming language while the application 370 is executed. The
runtime library 335 may perform input output management, memory
management, or arithmetic function processing. The application
manager 341 may, for example, manage a lifecycle of the application
370. The window manager 342 may manage a GUI resource which is used
for a screen. The multimedia manager 343 may obtain a format used
for playing media files, and perform encoding or decoding of the
media file by using a codec suitable to the corresponding format.
The resource manager 344 may manage a source code of the
application 370 or a space of a memory. The power manager 345 may,
for example, manage a battery capacity, temperature or power
supply, and identify or provide power information used for an
operation of an electronic device by using corresponding
information among this. According to an embodiment, the power
manager 345 may interwork with a basic input/output system (BIOS).
The database manager 346 may, for example, provide, search or
change a database that will be used in the application 370. The
package manager 347 may manage the installing or refining of an
application that is distributed in the form of a package file.
The connectivity manager 348 may, for example, manage wireless
connectivity. The notification manager 349 may, for example,
provide an event such as an arrival message, an appointment, a
proximity notification, etc. to a user. The location manager 350
may, for example, manage location information of an electronic
device. The graphic manager 351 may, for example, manage a graphic
effect that will be provided to the user, or a user interface
related with this. The security manager 352 may, for example,
provide system security or user authentication. According to an
embodiment, the middleware 330 may include a telephony manager for
managing a voice or video call function of the electronic device,
or a middleware module capable of forming a combination of
functions of the aforementioned constituent elements. According to
an embodiment, the middleware 330 may provide a module that is
specialized by type of an operating system. The middleware 330 may
dynamically delete some of the existing constituent elements, or
add new constituent elements. The API 360 is, for example, a set of
API programming functions, and may be provided to have another
construction according to the operating system. For example,
Android or iOS may provide one API set by platform, and Tizen may
provide two or more API sets by platform.
The application 370 may, for example, include a home 371, a dialer
372, a short message service (SMS)/multimedia message service (MMS)
373, an instant message (IM) 374, a browser 375, a camera 376, an
alarm 377, a contact 378, a voice dial 379, an electronic mail
(e-mail) 380, a calendar 381, a media player 382, an album 383, a
watch 384, a health care (e.g., measuring a momentum, a blood sugar
or the like), or an environment information (e.g., air pressure,
humidity, or temperature information) provision application.
According to an embodiment, the application 370 may include an
information exchange application capable of supporting information
exchange between an electronic device and an external electronic
device. The information exchange application may, for example,
include a notification relay application for relaying specific
information to the external electronic device, or a device
management application for managing the external electronic device.
For example, the notification relay application may relay
notification information provided in another application of the
electronic device, to the external electronic device, or receive
notification information from the external electronic device and
provide the received notification information to a user. The device
management application may, for example, install, delete, or refine
a function (e.g., turned-on/turned-off of the external electronic
device itself (or some components) or adjustment of a brightness
(or resolution) of a display) of the external electronic device
which communicates with the electronic device, or an application
which operates in the external electronic device. According to an
embodiment, the application 370 may include an application (e.g., a
health care application of a mobile medical instrument) designated
according to properties of the external electronic device.
According to an embodiment, the application 370 may include an
application received from the external electronic device. At least
a part of the program module 310 may be implemented (e.g.,
executed) as software, firmware, hardware (e.g., the processor
210), or a combination of at least two or more of them, and may
include a module for performing one or more functions, a program, a
routine, sets of instructions or a process.
The electronic device 101 may use a wireless local area network
(WLAN) service through an AP (e.g., the AP 102). To this end, the
AP establishes a wireless network, and the wireless network may be
referred to as a basic service set (BSS). For example, the AP
manages a BSS and may control a connection procedure of a mobile
station. The performance of a WLAN service may be improved by
managing a BSS. Accordingly, various embodiments of the disclosure
relate to a BSS management technology for effectively providing a
WLAN service.
Hereinafter, terms used in the disclosure are defined as
follows.
An `access point (AP)` is a device that provides a connection to a
network for a mobile station and may be a device that enables a
mobile station to exchange data with a network. For example, an AP
may provide a mobile station with a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)
network according to the communication standards of IEEE 802.11,
and the mobile station may transmit and receive data through the
Wi-Fi network provided by the Wi-Fi AP. Hereinafter, the term `AP`
used herein may be replaced with a `wireless router`, a `wireless
line sharer, or a `Wi-Fi router`.
A `WLAN standard` may refer to a communication standard used when a
mobile station and/or an AP performs Wi-Fi communication with each
other. For example, a WLAN standard may refer to any one of IEEE
802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac,
IEEE 802.11ad, IEEE 802.11k, IEEE 802.11r, and IEEE 802.11v.
A `supported WLAN standard` may refer to the highest version of
WLAN standards that a mobile station can support. For example, when
a WLAN standard that a mobile station can support is IEEE 802.11n,
the mobile station can also support IEEE 802.11a/b/g, which are
lower versions than IEEE 802.11n, but a supported WLAN standard
corresponds to IEEE 802.11n that is the highest version.
A `basic service set` (BSS) is a configuration unit of a wireless
network and may refer to a set including at least one AP and mobile
stations associated with the at least one AP. For example, a BSS
may refer to at least one AP and mobile stations associated
therewith in a WLAN using IEEE 802.11.
A `high-speed device` may refer to a device capable of achieving
relatively high throughput. A `low-speed device` may refer to a
device capable of achieving relatively low throughput. Here, a
low-speed device and a high-speed device may be distinguished on
the basis of the achievable transmission rate according to a
supported WLAN standard regardless of capabilities of other
hardware (e.g., memory capacity, processor performance, or the
like) of the devices. For example, when a first device can support
IEEE 802.11ac as a WLAN standard for communication with an AP and a
second device can support IEEE 802.11b as a WLAN standard for
communication with the AP, the first device can achieve high
throughput (=6.9 Gbps) corresponding to 802.11ac protocols, and the
second device can achieve relatively low throughput (=11 MBps)
corresponding to IEEE 802.11b protocols, and thus the first device
may be a high-speed device and the second device may be a low-speed
device.
A `whitelist` may refer to a list of mobile stations allowed to
access a particular BSS. For example, when it is determined that a
mobile station is allowed to access a particular BSS, an AP may
register the identifier (ID) of the mobile station in a whitelist
for the particular BSS.
A `blacklist` refers to a list of mobile stations not allowed to
access a particular BSS. For example, when it is determined that a
mobile station is not allowed to access a particular BSS, an AP may
register the ID of the mobile station in a blacklist for the
particular BSS.
FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of a basic service set (BSS)
according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to
FIG. 4, the BSS 400 may include one AP 410 and a plurality of
mobile stations 401, 402, and 403. However, this configuration is
provided for illustrative purposes, and there is no limit to the
number of APs and mobile stations included in the BSS 400.
The AP 410 (e.g., the AP 102 in FIG. 1) may provide a connection to
a network for each of the plurality of mobile stations 401, 402,
and 403. Each of the plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403
(e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1 or the electronic device
201 of FIG. 2) may transmit data to the network or may receive data
from the network via the AP 410. The plurality of mobile stations
401, 402, and 403 may use an agreed communication protocol with the
AP 410 for communication with the AP 410. For example, when the AP
410 and the plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 operate
in a Wi-Fi network, the AP 410 and the plurality of mobile stations
401, 402, and 403 may communicate using a communication protocol
according to IEEE 802.11.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a WLAN standard
that each of the plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 can
support to access and communicate with the AP 410 may be different
for each mobile station. For example, a first mobile station 401
may be a low-speed device capable of supporting up to the IEEE
802.11b WLAN standard, while a second mobile station 402 and a
third mobile station 403 may be high-speed devices capable of
supporting up to the IEEE 802.11ac WLAN standard. In another
example, the first mobile station 401 may be a low-speed device
capable of supporting up to the IEEE 802.11g WLAN standard, while
the second mobile station 402 and the third mobile station 403 may
be high-speed devices capable of supporting up to the IEEE 802.11n
WLAN standard.
According to an embodiment, when the plurality of mobile stations
401, 402, and 403 and the AP 410 included in the BSS 400 can
support the same WLAN standard, the plurality of mobile stations
401, 402, and 403 and the AP 410 can achieve throughput
corresponding to the WLAN standard. For example, when the plurality
of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 and the AP 410 included in the
BSS 400 all support the IEEE 802.11ac WLAN standard, all radio
resources may be used for communication using the IEEE 802.11ac
WLAN standard in the network of the BSS 400, and thus each of the
plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 can achieve
throughput (=6.9 Gbps) corresponding to IEEE 802.11ac. When the
plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 and the AP 410
included in the BSS 400 can support the same WLAN standard, each of
the plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 can transmit and
receive data with the maximum throughput that each mobile station
can achieve.
According to one embodiment, when the plurality of mobile stations
401, 402, and 403 can support different WLAN standards, for
example, when some of the plurality of mobile stations 401, 402,
and 403 are low-speed devices and the other thereof are high-speed
devices, some devices may not be able to achieve the maximum
throughput that the devices can achieve. For example, the first
mobile station 401 supports the IEEE 802.11g WLAN standard, and
both the second mobile station 402 and the third mobile station 403
support the IEEE 802.11ac WLAN standard (e.g., when the first
mobile station 401 is a low-speed device, and the second mobile
station 402 and the third mobile station 403 are high-speed
devices), all radio resources cannot be used for communication
using the IEEE 802.11ac WLAN standard in the network of the BSS 400
and some radio resources may be allocated for communication using
the IEEE 802.11g WLAN standard in order to support the first mobile
station 401. As the number of radio resources for the IEEE 802.11ac
WLAN standard are reduced, the second mobile station 402 and the
third mobile station 403, which are high-speed devices, cannot
achieve the maximum throughput (=6.9 Gbps) corresponding to IEEE
802.11ac. For example, when the BSS 400 includes a plurality of
mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 that support different WLAN
standards, mobile stations using higher-version Wi-Fi protocols
cannot transmit and receive data with the maximum throughput that
the mobile stations can achieve. For example, when all of the
plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 included in the BSS
400 are high-speed devices and a low-speed device is newly added to
the BSS 400, the throughput of the plurality of mobile stations
401, 402, and 403 transmitting and receiving data may be
reduced.
Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide an operating
method of an AP and an electronic device for preventing a decrease
in the throughput of some mobile stations when the BSS 400 includes
a plurality of mobile stations 401, 402, and 403 that support
different WLAN standards. For example, various embodiments of the
disclosure may provide an operating method of an AP in which at
least one AP manages a plurality of BSSs and determines whether to
include each mobile station in a BSS for providing communication
using a high WLAN standard among a plurality of BSSs according to a
WLAN standard that each mobile station can support, and an
electronic device therefor. A plurality of BSSs may be managed by
one AP or by a plurality of APs respectively associated with the
plurality of BSSs, which will be described in detail with reference
to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
FIG. 5 illustrates a case where one AP operates a plurality of BSSs
according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 5, one AP 410 (e.g., the AP 410 in FIG. 4) may
manage BSS1 510 (e.g., the BSS 400 in FIG. 4) and BSS2 520 (e.g.,
the BSS 400 in FIG. 4). Two circles shown in FIG. 5 are for
distinguishing BSS1 510 from BSS2 520, not for indicating a
geographical area for communication with mobile stations included
in BSS1 510 or a geographical area for communication with mobile
stations included in BSS2 520. Although FIG. 5 shows that the AP
410 manages two BSSs including BSS1 510 and BSS2 520, this is
provided for illustrative purposes. Instead, the AP 410 may manage
three or more BSSs including BSS1 510 and BSS2 520. BSS1 510 and
the BSS2 520 may be distinguished on the basis of a media access
control (MAC) address. For example, when BSS1 510 and BSS2 520 are
different, a MAC address of BSS1 510 and an MAC address of BSS2 520
may be different.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, when one AP 410 manages BSS1 510 and BSS2
520, the AP 410 may transmit both a frame for BSS1 510 and a frame
for BSS2 520. A specific example in which one AP 410 transmits
frames for a plurality of BSSs is described in detail with
reference to FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 illustrates a case where a plurality of APs operates
respective BSSs according to various embodiments of the
disclosure.
According to FIG. 6, one AP may manage one BSS. For example,
different BSSs may be managed by different APs, respectively. FIG.
6 illustrates two APs, AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2, in which API 410-1
may manage BSS1 510 and AP2 410-2 may manage BSS2 520. Two circles
shown in FIG. 6 are for distinguishing BSS1 510 from BSS2 520, not
for indicating a geographical area for communication with mobile
stations included in BSS1 510 (e.g., the BSS 400 in FIG. 4) or a
geographical area for communication with mobile stations included
in BSS2 520 (e.g., the BSS 400 in FIG. 4).
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a wireless
connection may be established by a wireless distribution system
(WDS) between AP1 410-1 (e.g., the AP 410 in FIG. 4) and AP2 410-2
(e.g., the AP 410 in FIG. 4), and AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 may
exchange information through the WDS. For example, AP1 410-1 and
AP2 410-2 may exchange information stored in AP1 410-1 and AP2
410-2 or may exchange information that AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2
receive from a mobile station through the wireless connection
therebetween. Although not shown, each of AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2
may manage a BSS (hereinafter, referred to as BSS3) for the WDS so
that AP1 410-1 and the AP2 410-2 perform communication through the
WDS. For example, when AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 perform
communication via the WDS, AP1 410-1 may transmit a frame for BSS1
510 and a frame for BSS3 and AP2 410-2 may transmit a frame for
BSS2 520 and a frame for BSS3. A specific example in which API
410-1 and AP2 410-2 transmit frames for a plurality of BSSs when
performing communication via the WDS will be described in detail
with reference to FIG. 20. According to other embodiments of the
disclosure, AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 may be connected via a cable.
In this case, since AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 may use a wired
connection for mutual communication instead of a connection via the
WDS, AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 may not manage BSS3.
In the following description, it is assumed that one AP manages one
BSS and a plurality of BSSs is managed by different APs as shown in
FIG. 6. Accordingly, a mobile station connected to AP1 410-1 may
belong to BSS1 510, and a mobile station connected to AP2 410-2 may
be included in BSS2 520. However, this assumption is merely for the
convenience of explanation, and the same description may also apply
to a case where one AP manages a plurality of BSSs. When one AP
manages a plurality of BSSs, signal exchange performed between APs
in the following embodiments may be understood as data
exchange/processing inside APs.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a wireless
communication system may include BSS1 510 and BSS2 520 managed by
API 410-1 and AP2 410-2, respectively. BSS2 520 may be a BSS that
dedicatedly performs data communication to provide high throughput
for mobile stations belonging to BSS2 520. BSS1 510 may be a BSS
that controls whether to include a mobile station in BSS2 520. In
the following description, a BSS that dedicatedly performs data
communication is referred to as a `data-only BSS`, and a BSS that
controls whether to include a mobile station in a data-only BSS is
referred to as a `gatekeeper BSS`. Also, an AP that manages a
gatekeeper BSS is referred to as a gatekeeper AP, and an AP that
manages a data-only BSS is referred to as a `data-communication
AP`, a `data-only AP`, or a `data AP`. For example, when BSS1 510
is a gatekeeper BSS and BSS2 520 is a data-only BSS, AP1 410-1
managing BSS1 510 may be a gatekeeper AP and AP2 410-2 managing
BSS2 520 may be a data-communication AP. A gatekeeper BSS/AP may be
referred to as an `access management BSS/AP`, an `access control
BSS/AP`, an `access BSS/AP`, or other terms having equivalent
technical meanings. A data only BSS/AP may be referred to as a
`data communication BSS/AP`, a `traffic BSS/AP`, a `data BSS/AP`,
or other terms having equivalent technical meanings.
According to one embodiment, BSS2 520 may include mobile stations
having a relatively high WLAN standard. Accordingly, the mobile
stations belonging to BSS2 520 can achieve high throughput
corresponding to the high WLAN standard. In order to maintain the
high throughput of the mobile stations belonging to BSS2 520, AP2
410-2 may provide data communication only for particular mobile
stations that are allowed to access AP2 410-2. To this end, AP2
410-2 may manage a whitelist and may allow access of only mobile
stations registered in the whitelist of AP2 410-2. For example, AP2
410-2 may allow access of a mobile station having a high supported
WLAN standard or may allow limited access of a mobile station
having a low supported WLAN standard. When AP2 410-2 manages one
BSS2 520, a mobile station allowed to access AP2 410-2 may be
considered as belonging to BSS2 520.
According to one embodiment, AP1 410-1 as a gatekeeper AP may be
used to determine whether to allow a mobile station to access AP2
410-2. Unlike AP2 410-2, AP1 410-1 may allow access of a mobile
station regardless of WLAN standards supported by the mobile
station. AP1 410-1 may receive a connection request from a mobile
station, may establish a connection with the mobile station
according to the connection request, and may control connection of
the mobile station to AP2 410-2. The connection request that AP1
410-1 receives from the mobile station may include information
about a WLAN standard that the mobile station can support. AP1
410-1 may control the mobile station not to be connected to AP2
410-2 according to the supported WLAN standard of the mobile
station (e.g., when the WLAN standard is low). For example, when a
mobile station having a relatively low supported WLAN standard is
newly included in BSS2 520 that is managed by AP2 410-2 and
includes a mobile station having a relatively high supported WLAN
standard, the throughput of existing mobile stations included in
BSS2 520 may be reduced, and thus AP1 410-1 may control the mobile
station having the relatively low WLAN standard not to be connected
to AP2 410-2.
According to one embodiment, an operation in which AP1 410-1
controls connection of a mobile station to AP2 410-2 may be as
follows. AP1 410-1 may transmit information for indicating an
attempt of a mobile station to access AP2 410-2 to an administrator
device. The information for indicating the attempt of the mobile
station to access AP2 410-2 may include information about a WLAN
standard that the mobile station can support. The administrator
device is, for example, a device for determining whether to allow
the mobile station to access AP2 410-2 and may be AP2 410-2, one of
a plurality of mobile stations connected to AP2 410-2, or a device
not connected to AP2 410-2. For example, when the administrator
device is one of a plurality of mobile stations connected to AP2
410-2, AP1 410-1 may transmit the information for indicating the
attempt of the mobile station to access AP2 410-2 to the
administrator device through AP2 410-2.
According to one embodiment, the administrator device may determine
whether to allow the mobile station to access AP2 410-2 on the
basis of the information received from AP1 410-1. For example, the
administrator device may detect an input from a user and may
determine whether to allow the mobile station to access AP2 410-2
on the basis of the detected input. The administrator device may
display a message indicating that there is the attempt of the
mobile station to connect via a display. For example, the message
may include information about the WLAN standard of the mobile
station that attempts to connect, information indication that a
low-speed device attempts to connect, or a user interface (UI,
e.g., a button) for receiving an input about whether to allow
access. In another embodiment, the administrator device may
determine whether to allow the mobile station to access AP2 410-2
without receiving any input from the user. For example, the
administrator device may determine whether to allow the mobile
station to access AP2 410-2 on the basis of the WLAN standard
supported by the mobile station that attempts to connect the number
of mobile stations currently connected to AP2 410-2, the operation
state thereof, or the required quality of service (QoS) level
thereof.
According to one embodiment, when the administrator device permits
the mobile station to access AP2 410-2, the administrator device
may transmit an access approval message indicating that access is
permitted to API 410-1. For example, when the administrator device
is one of a plurality of mobile stations connected to AP2 410-2,
the administrator device may transmit an access approval message of
the mobile station to AP2 410-2, and AP2 410-2 may transmit the
access approval message of the mobile station to API 410-1. When
API 410-1 receives the access approval message, the mobile station
that attempts to connect may be registered in a blacklist of API
410-1 and may also be registered in a whitelist of AP2 410-2. When
the mobile station is registered in the blacklist of API 410-1 and
is registered in the whitelist of AP2 410-2, the mobile station may
be disconnected from API 410-1 and may be connected to AP2 410-2.
The mobile station and AP2 410-2 may exchange data through the
established wireless connection.
According to one embodiment, AP2 410-2 may activate a function
corresponding to a particular WLAN standard in order to communicate
with a mobile station. For example, when a new mobile station using
a relatively low WLAN standard enters BSS2 520 in which all of AP2
410-2 and a plurality of mobile stations use the same WLAN
standard, AP2 410-2 may activate a function corresponding to the
low WLAN standard in order to serve the new mobile station.
According to one embodiment, when the administrator device does not
permit the mobile station to access AP2 410-2, the mobile station
cannot access AP2 410-2 and may maintain a connection with AP1
410-1.
According to one embodiment, to establish a connection between a
mobile station and an AP, the mobile station and the AP may
exchange credential information. The credential information may
include, for example, a network security type provided by the AP, a
service set identifier (SSID), a password for a mobile station to
access the AP, a cryptographic key, a key generated by the AP, a
public key, and an authentication message generated by a user input
(e.g., Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or a personal identification
number (PIN)). An operation of exchanging the credential
information between the mobile station and the AP is similar to an
operation in which the mobile station performs authentication in
order to connect to the AP and may include an operation in which
both the AP and the mobile station perform corresponding agreed
operations. When credential information is properly exchanged
between the mobile station and the AP, a connection may be
established between the mobile station and the AP. The mobile
station and the AP may store the exchanged credential information.
After the mobile station is disconnected from the AP, when the
mobile station requests a connection to the same AP again, the
mobile station and the AP already have the credential information
for establishing a connection therebetween, thus reestablishing a
connection without additionally exchanging the credential
information. For example, for the AP providing credential
information to be exchanged for connection establishment that is
the same as previously exchanged credential information, the mobile
station may establish a connection without further exchanging
credential information.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, AP1 410-1 may
provide at least some credential information about the mobile
station to AP2 410-2 so that the mobile station is quickly
connected to AP2 410-2. For example, AP1 410-1 may provide AP2
410-2 with at least some of the credential information exchanged
with the mobile station in an operation of connecting with the
mobile station. When the administrator device allows access of the
mobile station to AP2 410-2 and thus the mobile station is
disconnected from AP1 410-1, the mobile station may attempt to
connect to AP2 410-2 having the same SSID. For example, AP1 410-1
and AP2 410-2 may have the same SSID through the exchange of at
least some of the credential information including an SSID. The
mobile station may attempt to connect to AP2 410-2 among AP1 410-1
and AP2 410-2 having the same SSID instead of AP1 410-1 which
forcibly disconnects the mobile station therefrom through the
registration of the mobile station in the blacklist. Since the
mobile station, AP1 410-1, and AP2 410-2 have at least some of the
same credential information through the exchange of the credential
information, AP2 410-2 may establish a connection with the mobile
station using the credential information provided from AP 410-1
without additionally exchanging the credential information with the
mobile station. The mobile station and AP2 410-2 may exchange data
through the established connection.
According to one embodiment, even though a connection is
established between the mobile station and AP2 410-2, when an event
occurs such that the mobile station departs from the coverage of
the AP2 410-2, the mobile station may be disconnected from AP2
410-2. When the mobile station is disconnected from AP2 410-2 for a
certain period of time, AP2 410-2 may prevent the mobile station
from being reconnected to AP2 410-2. For example, the mobile
station may be deleted from the whitelist of AP2 410-2. The mobile
station may be deleted from the blacklist of AP1 410-1. Thus, when
the mobile station reenters the coverage of AP1 410-1 and/or AP2
410-2, the foregoing operations may be performed again.
When the mobile station is allowed to access AP2 410-2, an
operation in which the mobile station is disconnected from AP1
410-1 and connects to AP2 410-2 may be performed as follows.
According to one embodiment, the mobile station is disconnected
from AP1 410-1 as the mobile station is registered in the blacklist
of AP1 410-1. The mobile station may attempt to connect to AP2
410-2. An operation of the mobile station attempting to connect to
AP2 410-2 may include an operation of performing authentication
between the mobile station and AP2 410-2. For example, the mobile
station may perform authentication with AP2 410-2 on the basis of
the credential information exchanged between AP1 410-1 and AP2
410-2 in order to attempt to connect to AP2 410-2. When the
authentication is completed, the mobile station may be connected to
AP2 410-2. AP2 410-2 may identify the MAC address of the mobile
station to authenticate the mobile station. As described above,
since the mobile station is disconnected from a source AP, performs
authentication with a target AP, and is then connected to the
target AP, there may be a period in which the mobile station is
disconnected while performing authentication.
According to one embodiment, as in a case where the mobile station,
AP1 410-1, and AP2 410-2 support the IEEE 802.11r/k/v WLAN
standards, the mobile station may perform disconnection from AP1
410-1 and connection to AP2 410-2 without disconnection. For
example, the mobile station may obtain identification (ID)
information of AP2 410-2 (e.g., the BSSID of BSS2 520) as a target
AP from AP1 410-1 and may be connected to AP2 410-2 using the ID
information without any additional authentication operation.
Further, the mobile station does not perform an additional
authentication procedure to connect with AP2 410-2 and may thus be
connected to AP2 410-2 without terminating the connection with AP1
410-1. As described above, an operation in which a mobile station
is connected to a target AP without terminating a connection with a
source AP may be referred to as roaming.
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B illustrate the configuration of an AP device
for performing operations according to various embodiments of the
disclosure.
FIG. 7A is a block diagram illustrating an AP 410 (e.g., the AP 410
of FIG. 4) according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The
terms `unit, `-or/er`, and the like used herein indicate a unit for
processing at least one function or operation, which may be
implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and
software. The AP 410 includes device components illustrated in FIG.
7A regardless of whether the AP is API 410-1 as a gatekeeper AP or
AP2 410-2 as an AP for data communication. Referring to FIG. 7A,
the AP 410 may include a processor 710 (e.g., an application
processor), an interface 720, a memory 730, a communication unit
740, a lamp 750, an indicator 760, a power management module 770,
and a battery 780. According to one embodiment, the AP 410 may be
the same as or similar to the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1 or
the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2.
According to one embodiment, the processor 710 (e.g., the processor
120 or the processor 210) may control the interface 720, the memory
730, the communication unit 740, the lamp 750, the indicator 760,
and the power management module 770 which are functionally coupled
with the processor 710. For example, the processor 710 may control
the reception of a forward channel signal and the transmission of a
reverse channel signal using the communication unit 740. In some
embodiments, the processor 710 may include at least one
microprocessor or microcontroller.
According to one embodiment, the processor 710 may execute a
process or program stored in the memory 730. The processor 710 may
move data to the memory 730 or may import data from the memory 730
as required by an execution process. In some embodiments, the
processor 710 may be configured to execute an application in
response to a signal received on the basis of an OS.
According to one embodiment, the interface 720 is a medium for
establishing a wired or wireless connection with another device and
may include, for example, an HDMI 721 and a USB 722. Although the
interface 720 is illustrated as being separate from the
communication unit 740 in FIG. 7, the interface 720 may be included
in the communication unit 740.
According to one embodiment, the memory 730 may be electrically
connected to the processor 710. The memory 730 may include, for
example, an internal memory 731 or an external memory 732. The
internal memory 731 may include, for example, at least one of a
volatile memory (for example, a DRAM, a SRAM, a SDRAM, or the like)
and a nonvolatile memory (for example, a one-time programmable ROM
(OTPROM), a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a mask ROM, a flash ROM, a
flash memory, a hard drive, or a solid-state drive (SSD)). The
external memory 732 may include a flash drive, for example, a
compact flash (CF), a Secure digital (SD), a micro-SD, a mini-SD,
an extreme digital (xD), a multi-media card (MMC), a memory stick,
or the like. The external memory 732 may be functionally or
physically connected to the AP 410 through any of various
interfaces.
According to various embodiments, the memory 730 may store a
blacklist and/or a whitelist of at least one mobile station. The
memory 730 may store credential information exchanged with a mobile
station through the communication unit 740 or credential
information received from another AP device.
According to one embodiment, the communication unit 740 may receive
a radio frequency (RF) signal. To this end, the communication unit
740 may include at least one radio frequency module. The
communication unit 740 may downconvert a received signal to
generate an intermediate frequency (IF) or baseband signal. The
communication unit 740 may include a reception processing circuit
that filters, decodes, and/or digitalizes a baseband or IF signal
to generate a processed baseband signal. The reception processing
circuit may transmit the processed baseband signal to a speaker for
audio data or to the processor 710 for further processing (e.g.,
web browsing data).
According to one embodiment, the communication unit 740 may include
at least one transceiver. The at least one transceiver may receive
outgoing baseband data (e.g., web data, e-mail, or interactive
video game data) from the processor 710. A transmission processing
circuit may encode, multiplex, or digitize outgoing baseband data
in order to generate a processed baseband or IF signal. The
communication unit 740 may upconvert an outgoing processed baseband
or IF signal into an RF signal to be transmitted via an antenna
through a transmission processing circuit.
According to one embodiment, the communication unit 740 includes a
ZigBee module 741, a Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy (BT/BLE) module
742, a WLAN chip 743 supporting a 2 GHz band, a WLAN chip 744
supporting a 5 GHz band, and a WAN module 745. The communication
unit 740 may communicate with an external device using a
communication standard corresponding to each of the ZigBee module
741, the BT/BLE module 742, the WLAN chip 743 supporting the 2 GHz
band, the WLAN chip 744 supporting the 5 GHz band, and the WAN
module 745.
According to one embodiment, the lamp 750 and/or the indicator 760
may display a specific state of the 410 or a component thereof
(e.g., the processors 710), which may be, for example, a booting
state, a message state, a network connection state, or a charging
state.
According to one embodiment, the power management module 770 may
manage the power of the AP 410. According to one embodiment, the
power management module 770 may include a power management
integrated circuit (PMIC), a charger IC, or a battery or fuel
gauge. The PMIC may have wired and/or wireless charging methods.
The wireless charging methods may include, for example, a magnetic
resonance method, a magnetic induction method, or an
electromagnetic wave method. The power management module 770 may
further include an additional circuit for wireless charging, such
as a coil loop, a resonance circuit, or a rectifier. The battery
gauge may measure, for example, the remaining battery charge, the
charging voltage, the current, or temperature of the battery 780.
The battery 780 may include, for example, a rechargeable battery
and/or a solar battery.
The components of the AP 410 shown in FIG. 7A are provided for
illustrative purposes, and some components may be omitted. In
addition, the AP 410 may include an additional component. For
example, the AP 410 may further include a user input module and a
display module. According to various embodiments of the disclosure,
the processor 710 may control the display module to display a
message indicating that a mobile station attempts to connect to the
AP 410. The processor 710 may control the user input module to
receive an input to determine whether to allow access of the mobile
station that has attempted to connect. The device components shown
in FIG. 7A may perform an integrated function along with other
components. For example, a combination including at least one of
the processor 710 and the communication unit 740 may be referred to
as a Wi-Fi communication circuit and may perform both a function of
the processor 710 and a function of the communication unit 740.
FIG. 7B illustrates various modules included in a processor 710 of
a gatekeeper AP according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 7B, the processor 710 of AP1 410-1 as a
gatekeeper AP includes a WLAN standard setup unit 711 (e.g., Wi-Fi
protocol version setup unit), a data frame transmission controller
713, a connection setup controller 715, a management frame
transmission controller 717, and a beacon frame transmission
controller 719. For example, the WLAN standard setup unit 711, the
data frame transmission controller 713, the connection setup
controller 715, the management frame transmission controller 717,
and the beacon frame transmission controller 719 may be, as an
instruction set or a code stored in the memory 730,
instructions/codes at least transitorily residing in the processor
710 or storage spaces that stores the instructions/codes, or may be
part of circuitry that constitutes the processor 710.
According to one embodiment, the WLAN standard setup unit 711 may
configure AP1 410-1 to transmit and receive a frame according to
any supported WLAN standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad). AP1
410-1 may transmit and receive a frame according to any WLAN
standard, thereby detecting a connection request from a mobile
station regardless of WLAN standards supported by the mobile
station.
According to one embodiment, the data frame transmission controller
713 may control AP1 410-1 not to perform data transmission and
reception. AP1 410-1, which is the gatekeeper AP, is for
controlling access of a mobile station to AP2 410-2 by detecting a
connection request from the mobile station control, and may enable
AP2 410-2 as a data-communication AP to efficiently transmit and
receive data by not performing data transmission and reception. In
order to control AP1 410-1 not to perform data transmission and
reception, the data frame transmission controller 713 may control
AP1 410-1 to transmit only a management frame used for a mobile
station to connect and to maintain a connection without
transmitting a data frame, for example, by controlling a
configuration of the Wi-Fi modules 743 and 744, or may restrict
transmission and reception of a data packet by modifying a
communication path using a kernel.
According to one embodiment, the connection setup controller 715
may control access of a mobile station currently connected to AP1
410-1 to AP2 410-2 as a data communication-only AP. For example,
the connection setup controller 715 may transmit information for
AP1 410-1 to indicate an attempt of the mobile station to access
AP2 410-2 to an administrator device. When AP 410-1 receives an
approval for an access attempt from the administrator device, the
connection setup controller 715 may add the mobile station to a
blacklist of AP1 410-1 and a whitelist of AP2 410-2 so that the
mobile station establishes a connection to AP2 410-2.
According to one embodiment, the management frame transmission
controller 717 may control whether AP1 410-1 transmits a frame
other than the management frame or a frequency with which AP1 410-1
transmits the management frame. The management frame may be used to
detect a connection request from a mobile station that is not
connected with AP1 410-1 or to maintain a connection of a mobile
station already connected to AP1 410-1. Since AP1 410-1 as the
gatekeeper AP is required to detect a connection request from a
mobile station but is not required to transmit and receive data to
and from the mobile station, the management frame transmission
controller 717 may control AP1 410-1 not to transmit a frame other
than the management frame.
According to one embodiment, the beacon frame transmission
controller 719 may control a cycle on which AP1 410-1 transmits a
beacon frame. A beacon frame is a type of management frame and may
include information about an AP transmitting a beacon frame and a
BSS of the AP transmitting the beacon frame, information necessary
for a mobile station to access an AP transmitting a beacon frame,
or scheduling information about a frame buffered in an AP
transmitting a beacon frame. For example, when there are a
relatively large number of mobile stations transmitting a
connection request to AP1 410-1, the beacon frame transmission
controller 719 may reduce the cycle on which AP1 410-1 transmits a
beacon frame. When there are a relatively small number of mobile
stations transmitting a connection request to AP1 410-1, the beacon
frame transmission controller 719 may increase the cycle on which
AP1 410-1 transmits a beacon frame.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a management
frame and/or a beacon frame may be used by an AP to detect a
connection request from a mobile station to the AP. Since AP1 410-1
needs to detect a connection request from a mobile station
regardless of WLAN standards supported by the mobile station, the
cycle on which AP 410-1 transmits a beacon frame may be relatively
short. Since AP2 410-2 detects a connection request only from a
mobile station the access of which is approved by the administrator
device, a cycle on which AP2 410-2 transmits a beacon frame may be
relatively long. As a frequency with which AP2 410-2 transmits a
beacon frame is reduced (the cycle is increased), AP2 410-2 can use
more radio resources for data communication and may thus provide
high throughput for mobile stations connected to AP2 410-2 using an
increased quantity of radio resources. According to one embodiment,
a cycle on which a management frame and/or a beacon frame is
transmitted may not exceed a threshold value, and the threshold
value may vary depending on the WLAN standard. For example, the
lowest rate at which a management frame and/or a beacon frame is
transmitted is 6 Mbps in the IEEE 802.11g/n WLAN standards, while
the lowest rate at which a management frame and/or a beacon frame
is transmitted is 1 Mbps in the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard. To
exchange data with a mobile station supporting a particular version
of a Wi-Fi protocol, the AP may change a cycle on which a
management frame and/or a beacon frame is transmitted such that a
management frame and/or a beacon frame is transmitted on a cycle
corresponding to the version of the Wi-Fi protocol.
A wireless communication system according to various embodiments of
the disclosure may include: a first AP configured to include a
first Wi-Fi communication circuit providing a first BSS; and a
second AP configured to be wirelessly connected with the first AP
and to include a second Wi-Fi communication circuit providing a
second BSS. The first Wi-Fi communication circuit may be configured
to: wirelessly receive a first connection request from a mobile
station; wirelessly exchange credential information with the mobile
station; block a wireless connection with the mobile station after
exchanging the credential information; and provide at least some of
the credential information to the second AP. The second Wi-Fi
communication circuit may be configured to: receive at least the
some of the credential information from the first AP; wirelessly
receive a second connection request from the mobile station;
establish a wireless connection with the mobile station using at
least the some of the credential information without exchanging
additional credential information with the mobile station; and
exchange data with the mobile station through the established
wireless connection.
A wireless communication system according to various embodiments of
the disclosure may include: a first AP configured to include a
first Wi-Fi communication circuit configured to provide a first
BSS; and a second AP configured to be wirelessly connected with the
first AP and to include a second Wi-Fi communication circuit
configured to provide a second BSS. The first Wi-Fi communication
circuit may be configured to: wirelessly receive, from a first
mobile station, a first connection request including information
about a Wi-Fi protocol version of the first mobile station;
wirelessly provide at least part of the information to a second
mobile station; wirelessly receive an approval for a connection to
the first mobile station from the second mobile station; and block
a wireless connection with the first mobile station after receiving
the approval. The second Wi-Fi communication circuit may be
configured to: wirelessly receive the approval from a second mobile
station; wirelessly receive a second connection request from the
first mobile station; establish a wireless connection with the
first mobile station on the basis of the approval; and exchange
data with the first mobile station through the established wireless
connection.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit may be configured to provide the first BSS
using a first frequency band, and the second Wi-Fi communication
circuit may be configured to provide the second BSS using a second
frequency band higher than the first frequency band.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit may be configured to provide the first BSS
using a first frequency band and a first MAC address, and the
second Wi-Fi communication circuit may be configured to provide the
second BSS using the first frequency band and a second MAC address
different from the first MAC address.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the credential
information may include at least one of a security type, a
password, a cryptographic key, a key generated and encoded by an
AP, a public key, or a WPS.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit may transmit a first beacon frame on a first
cycle, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit may transmit a
second beacon frame on a second cycle longer than the first
cycle.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the second
Wi-Fi communication circuit may provide, to the mobile station, a
data packet including a frame that includes a header including
information for supporting a plurality of wireless local area
network (WLAN) standards and a payload carrying data.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, the first Wi-Fi
communication circuit may transmit information about the second AP
to the mobile station, and the second Wi-Fi communication circuit
establishes the wireless connection with the mobile station without
a procedure for additionally authenticating the mobile station.
A device of an AP in a wireless communication system according to
various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a communication
circuit configured to wirelessly receive a connection request from
a mobile station and to wirelessly exchange credential information
with the mobile station; and a processor configured to block a
wireless connection with the mobile station after exchanging the
credential information. The processor may be configured to provide
at least some of the credential information to a different AP and
to control the different AP to establish a wireless connection with
the mobile station without exchanging additional credential
information with the mobile station.
A device of an AP in a wireless communication system according to
various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a communication
circuit configured to receive, from a different AP, at least some
credential information exchanged between the different AP and a
mobile station and to receive a connection request from the mobile
station; and a processor configured to establish a wireless
connection with the mobile station, in response to the connection
request, using at least the some of the credential information
without exchanging additional credential information with the
mobile station. The communication circuit may perform a control to
exchange data with the mobile station through the wireless
connection.
A device of an AP in a wireless communication system according to
various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a communication
unit configured to wirelessly receive, from a first mobile station,
a first connection request including information about a WLAN
standard of the first mobile station, to wirelessly provide at
least part of the information to a second mobile station, and to
wirelessly receive an approval for a connection to the first mobile
station from the second mobile station; and a processor configured
to block a first wireless connection with the first mobile station
after receiving the approval and to establish a second wireless
connection between the first mobile station and a second AP.
A device of an AP in a wireless communication system according to
various embodiments of the disclosure may include: a communication
unit configured to wirelessly receive an approval for a connection
of a first mobile station to the AP from a second mobile station
and to wirelessly receive a connection request from the first
mobile station; and a controller configured to establish a wireless
connection with the first mobile station on the basis of the
approval. The communication unit may exchange data with the mobile
station through the wireless connection, and the approval may be
determined on the basis of information about a WLAN standard of the
first mobile station.
FIG. 8 is a signal flowchart showing that a mobile station is
connected to a data-communication AP according to various
embodiments of the disclosure. In FIG. 8, AP1 410-1 (e.g., the AP
410 of FIG. 7) and AP2 410-2 (e.g. the AP 410 of FIG. 7) may be a
gatekeeper AP and a data-communication AP, respectively; STA1
(station 1) 870 (e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1 or the
electronic device 201 of FIG. 2) may be a mobile station attempting
to access AP2 410-2; and STA2 880 (e.g., the electronic device 101
of FIG. 1 or the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2) may be a mobile
station connected to AP2 410-2 and an administrator device.
In operation 810, STA1 870 may attempt to connect to AP1 410-1. An
operation of STA1 870 attempting to connect to AP1 410-1 may
include an operation of STA1 870 transmitting a connection request
to AP1 410-1 and an operation of STA 870 exchanging credential
information with AP1 410-1. The connection request transmitted by
STA1 870 to AP1 410-1 may include information about a WLAN standard
that STA1 870 can support.
In operation 820, AP1 410-1 may transmit a request to display a
notification message to STA2 880 via AP2 410-2. For example, the
request to display the notification message may include information
indicating that STA1 870 attempts to access AP2 410-2 and the
information about the WLAN standard that STA1 870 can support.
Although not shown, upon receiving the request to display the
notification message from AP1 410-1, STA2 880 may display a message
indicating that STA1 870 attempts to access AP2 410-2. For example,
the message may include information about a WLAN standard of a
mobile station that attempts to connect, information indicating
that a low-speed device attempts to connect, or a UI for receiving
an input about whether to allow access. STA2 880 may determine
whether to allow access of STA1 870 to AP2 410-2.
According to one embodiment, when STA2 880 permits STA1 870 to
access AP2 410-2, STA2 880 may transmit an access approval message
to API 410-1 via AP2 410-2 in operation 830. Upon receiving the
access approval message, API 410-1 may transmit information about
STA1 870 to AP2 410-2 in operation 840. For example, the
information about STA1 870 may include the MAC address of STA1 870
or credential information. Upon receiving the information about
STA1 870, AP2 410-2 may identify the MAC address of STA1 870 and
may perform operations for establishing a connection with STA1 870.
Although not shown, in operation 840, API 410-1 may provide the
credential information to AP2 410-2. The credential information
provided to AP2 410-2 may include at least some of the credential
information exchanged between STA1 870 and API 410-1 in operation
810. AP2 410-2 may establish a wireless connection with STA1 860-1
using the exchanged credential information without further
exchanging credential information with STA1 870.
In operation 850, API 410-1 may release a connection with STA1 870.
For example, API 410-1 may register STA1 870 in a blacklist of API
410-1 in order to be disconnected from STA1 870. API 410-1 may
request AP2 410-2 to register STA1 870 in a whitelist of AP2 410-2.
The ID of a mobile station not allowed to access a particular AP or
a BSS managed by the AP may be registered in the blacklist. Each ID
may be assigned an index. The ID of a mobile station allowed to
access a particular AP or a BSS managed by the AP may be registered
in the whitelist. Each ID may be assigned an index. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 9, the IDs of registered mobile stations and
corresponding indexes may be managed in a table in a blacklist 910
and a whitelist 930.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a blacklist and
a whitelist may be used to reject or allow access of a mobile
station to a BSS managed by an AP that stores the blacklist and the
whitelist. The blacklist and the whitelist may be used to reject or
allow access of a mobile station to a BSS managed by an AP other
than the BSS managed by the AP that stores the blacklist and the
whitelist. For example, the AP that stores the blacklist and the
whitelist may exchange information about a blacklist and a
whitelist with a different AP over a wireless or wired connection,
thereby controlling access of a mobile station to a BSS managed by
the different AP. For example, the blacklist of AP1 410-1 and the
whitelist of AP2 410-2 may be separately managed by API 410-1 and
AP2 410-2, respectively. In this case, API 410-1 may register STA1
870 in the blacklist of API 410-1 upon receiving the access
approval message, and AP2 410-2 may register STA1 870 in the
whitelist of AP2 410-2 upon receiving the access approval message.
When STA1 870 is registered in the blacklist of API 410-1, STA1 870
may be disconnected from API 410-1.
In operation 860, STA1 870 may attempt to connect to AP 410-2. AP2
410-2 may receive a connection request from STA1 870, may identify
that STA1 870 is registered in the whitelist of AP2 410-2, and may
then establish a wireless connection with STA1 870 in response to
the connection request.
Subsequently, STA1 870 and AP2 410-2 may exchange data through the
established wireless connection.
FIG. 10A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP for exchanging credential information between APs according to
various embodiments of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 10A, in operation 1010, the gatekeeper AP (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or API 410-1 of FIG. 8) may receive a
connection request from a mobile station. A processor 710 of the
gatekeeper AP may control a communication unit 740 to wirelessly
receive the connection request from the mobile station. The
connection request may include information about a WLAN standard
that the mobile station can support.
In operation 1020, the gatekeeper AP may exchange credential
information with the mobile station. The processor 710 of the
gatekeeper AP may control the communication unit 740 to wirelessly
exchange the credential information with the mobile station. The
operation of exchanging credential information between the mobile
station and the AP may include an operation in which both the AP
and the mobile station perform corresponding agreed operations.
When the credential information is exchanged between the mobile
station and the AP, a connection may be established between the
mobile station and the AP, and the mobile station and the AP may
store at least part of the exchanged credential information.
In operation 1030, the gatekeeper AP may block a wireless
connection to the mobile station. The processor 710 of the
gatekeeper AP may block the wireless connection to the mobile
station. For example, the gatekeeper AP may register the mobile
station in a blacklist of the gatekeeper AP, thereby blocking the
wireless connection to the mobile station.
In operation 1040, the gatekeeper AP may provide at least some of
the credential information to a data-communication AP. The
processor 710 of the gatekeeper AP may control the communication
unit 740 to provide at least the some of the credential information
to the data-communication AP. For example, the gatekeeper AP may
provide the data-communication AP with at least one of a network
security type provided by the gatekeeper AP, an SSID, a password
for a mobile station to access the AP, a cryptographic key, a key
generated by the gatekeeper AP, a public key, or an authentication
message generated by a user input (e.g., WPS or a PIN). Since the
mobile station, the gatekeeper AP, and the data-communication AP
have at least some of the same credential information through the
exchange of the credential information, the data-communication AP
may establish a connection with the mobile station using at least
the some of the credential information provided from the gatekeeper
AP without additionally exchanging the credential information with
the mobile station.
Through the exchange of the credit information, theFIG. 10B is a
flowchart illustrating the operation of a data-communication AP for
exchanging credential information between APs according to various
embodiments of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 10B, in operation 1050, the data-communication AP
(e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 of FIG. 8) may receive at
least some credential information from a gatekeeper AP. A processor
710 of the data-communication AP may control a communication unit
740 to receive at least the some of the credential information from
the gatekeeper AP. The credential information received from the
gatekeeper AP may be credential information that the gatekeeper AP
exchanges with a mobile station to establish a connection with the
mobile station.
In operation 1060, the data-communication AP may establish a
wireless connection with the mobile station using at least the some
of the credential information. The processor 710 of the
data-communication AP may establish the wireless connection with
the mobile station using at least the some of the credential
information. Since the mobile station, the gatekeeper AP, and the
data-communication AP have at least some of the same credential
information through the exchange of the credential information in
operation 1040 of FIG. 10A, the data-communication AP may establish
a connection with the mobile station using at least the some of the
credential information provided from the gatekeeper AP without
additionally exchanging the credential information with the mobile
station.
In operation 1080, the data-communication AP may exchange data with
the mobile station via the wireless connection. The processor 710
of the data-communication AP may control the communication unit 740
to exchange the data with the mobile station via the wireless
connection.
An operating method of an AP in a wireless communication system
according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include:
receiving at least some credential information from a first AP;
receiving a connection request from a mobile station; establishing
a wireless connection with the mobile station using at least the
some of the credential information without exchanging additional
credential information with the mobile station in response to the
connection request; and exchanging data with the mobile station
through the wireless connection. The credential information may be
information exchanged between the first AP and the mobile
station.
FIG. 11A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP for providing a connection for a mobile station according to
various embodiments of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 11A, in operation 1110, the gatekeeper AP (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or API 410-1 of FIG. 8) may wirelessly receive
a connection request including information about a WLAN standard of
a first mobile station from the first mobile station. A processor
710 of the gatekeeper AP may control a communication unit 740 to
wirelessly receive the connection request including the information
about the WLAN standard of the first mobile station from the first
mobile station.
In operation 1120, the gatekeeper AP may wirelessly provide at
least part of the information to a second mobile station. The
processor 710 of the gatekeeper AP may control the communication
unit 740 to wirelessly provide at least the part of the information
to the second mobile station. The information provided by the
communication unit 740 to the second mobile station may include
information indicating that the first mobile station attempts to
access a data-communication AP or information about a WLAN standard
that the mobile station can support.
In operation 1130, the gatekeeper AP may wirelessly receive an
approval for a connection of the first mobile station from the
second mobile station. The processor 710 of the gatekeeper AP may
control the communication unit 740 to wirelessly receive the
approval for the connection of the first mobile station from the
second mobile station.
In operation 1140, the gatekeeper AP may block a wireless
connection with the first mobile station. The processor 710 of the
gatekeeper AP may perform a control to block the wireless
connection with the first mobile station. The gatekeeper AP may
block the wireless connection with the first mobile station, thus
establishing a wireless connection between the first mobile station
and the data-communication AP. To block the connection with the
first mobile station, the gatekeeper AP may register the first
mobile station in a blacklist of the gatekeeper AP and in a
whitelist of the data-communication AP. To establish a wireless
connection between the first mobile station and the
data-communication AP, the gatekeeper AP may provide information
about the approval received from the second mobile station in
operation 1130 to the data-communication AP. The information about
the approval may include, for example, credential information
exchanged between the gatekeeper AP and the first mobile station
and information about the first mobile station (e.g., the MAC
address of the first mobile station). For example, upon receiving
the information about the approval, the data-communication AP may
identify the MAC address of the first mobile station and may
establish a wireless connection with the first mobile station using
the credential information exchanged between the gatekeeper AP and
the first mobile station without exchanging additional credential
information with the first mobile station.
FIG. 11B is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a
data-communication AP for providing a connection for a mobile
station according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 11B, in operation 1150, the data-communication AP
(e.g., AP2 410-2) may wirelessly receive an approval for a
connection of a first mobile station to the data-communication AP
from a gatekeeper AP (e.g., AP1 410-1). A processor 710 of the
data-communication AP may control a communication unit 740 to
wirelessly receive the approval for the connection of the first
mobile station to the data-communication AP from the gatekeeper AP.
After receiving an access approval message, the processor 710 of
the data-communication AP may register the first mobile station
that attempts to connect in a whitelist of the data-communication
AP.
In operation 1160, the data-communication AP may wirelessly receive
a connection request from the first mobile station. The processor
710 of the data-communication AP may control the communication unit
740 to wirelessly receive the connection request from the first
mobile station. The processor 710 of the data-communication AP may
control the communication unit 740 to detect the connection request
from the first mobile station.
In operation 1170, since the first mobile station is registered in
the whitelist of the data-communication AP, the data-communication
AP may establish a wireless connection with the first mobile
station on the basis of the approval. The processor 710 of the
data-communication AP may perform a control to establish the
wireless connection with the first mobile station on the basis of
the approval. The processor 710 of the data-communication AP may
establish the connection with the first mobile station in response
to the connection request detected in operation 1160.
In operation 1180, the data-communication AP may exchange data with
the first mobile station via the wireless connection. The processor
710 of the data-communication AP may control the communication unit
740 to exchange the data with the first mobile station through the
wireless connection.
An operating method of an AP in a wireless communication system
according to various embodiments of the disclosure may include:
receiving a first message including information about a WLAN
standard of a first mobile station from the first mobile station;
transmitting a second message requesting an approval for a
connection of the first mobile station to a second mobile station;
receiving a third message indicating the approval for the
connection of the first mobile station from the second mobile
station; and controlling a wireless connection to be established
between the first mobile station and another AP.
FIG. 12 is a signal flowchart showing that a mobile station is
connected to a data-communication AP via a server according to
various embodiments of the disclosure. In FIG. 12, AP1 410-1 (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1 410-1 in FIG. 8) and AP2 410-2 ((e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 in FIG. 8) may be a gatekeeper AP
and a data-communication AP, respectively; STA1 1270 (e.g., the
electronic device 101 of FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG.
2, or STA1 870 of FIG. 8) may be a mobile station attempting to
access AP2 410-2; and STA2 1280 (e.g., the electronic device 101 of
FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA2 880 of FIG. 8)
may be a mobile station connected to AP2 410-2 and an administrator
device. Operations 1210, 1240, 1250, and 1260 in FIG. 12 may be
equivalent or similar to operations 810, 840, 850, and 860 in FIG.
8, respectively.
According to one embodiment, when STA2 1280 is not connected to AP2
410-2, AP1 410-1 may transmit a notification message display
request to STA2 1280 via a server 1290 in operation 1220. API 410-1
may receive an access approval message from STA2 1280 via the
server 1290.
FIG. 13 is a signal flowchart showing that a mobile station is
connected to a data-communication AP using roaming according to
various embodiments of the disclosure. In FIG. 13, AP1 410-1 (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1 410-1 in FIG. 8) and AP2 410-2 ((e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 in FIG. 8) may be a gatekeeper AP
and a data-communication AP, respectively; STA1 1370 (e.g., the
electronic device 101 of FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG.
2, or STA1 870 of FIG. 8) may be a mobile station attempting to
access AP2 410-2; and STA2 1380 (e.g., the electronic device 101 of
FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA2 880 of FIG. 8)
may be a mobile station connected to AP2 410-2 and an administrator
device. Operations 1310, 1320, 1330, and 1340 in FIG. 13 may be
equivalent or similar to operations 810, 820, 830, and 840 in FIG.
8, respectively.
In operation 1350, API 410-1 may transmit a roaming notification to
STA1 1370 and AP2 410-2. For example, the roaming notification is
for STA1 1370 to perform seamless disconnection from API 410-1 and
to establish seamless connection to AP2 410-2, and the roaming
notification transmitted to STA1 1370 may include ID information of
AP2 410-2.
In operation 1360, STA1 1370 may attempt to roam to AP2 410-2. For
example, STA1 1370 may try to roam using the ID information of AP2
410-2. STA1 1370 may be connected to AP2 410-2 without any
additional authentication procedure with AP2 410-2.
FIG. 14 is a signal flowchart showing that a data-communication AP
determines whether to connect a mobile station according to various
embodiments of the disclosure. In FIG. 14, AP1 410-1 (e.g., the AP
410 of FIG. 7 or API 410-1 in FIG. 8) and AP2 410-2 ((e.g., the AP
410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 in FIG. 8) may be a gatekeeper AP and a
data-communication AP, respectively; and STA1 1470 (e.g., the
electronic device 101 of FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG.
2, or STA1 870 of FIG. 8) may be a mobile station attempting to
access AP2 410-2.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, AP2 410-2 may
independently determine whether to allow access of STA1 1470 to AP2
410-2. For example, when a WLAN standard that can be supported by
STA1 1470 attempting to access AP2 410-2 belongs to a specified
condition on the basis of information received from API 410-1, AP2
410-2 may allow STA1 1470 to access AP2 410-2 without displaying a
notification message for a user. When the WLAN standard that can be
supported by STA1 1470 attempting to access AP2 410-2 does not
belong to the specified condition, if there is no device that is
currently connected to AP2 410-2 and belongs to the specified
condition, if there are a small number of connected devices
belonging to the specified condition and thus throughput loss of a
device belonging to the specified condition is relatively
inconsiderable even though a device not belonging to the
specification condition is connected, or if mobile stations
currently connected to AP2 410-2 operate in a sleep mode or require
a low QoS level, AP2 410-2 may allow STA1 1470 attempting to
connect to access AP2 410-2.
In operation 1420, AP1 410-1 may directly transmit a connection
request message to AP2 410-2. The connection request message
transmitted by API 410-1 may include information indicating that
STA1 1470 attempts to access AP2 410-2 or information about a WLAN
standard that STA1 1470 can support.
In operation 1430, AP2 410-2 may determine whether to allow STA1
1470 to access AP2 410-2. According to one embodiment, when AP2
410-2 includes a display, AP2 410-2 may display a message
indicating that STA1 1470 attempts to connect through the display.
For example, the message that AP2 410-2 displays on the display may
include a UI for receiving an input about whether to allow access.
AP2 410-2 may receive an input about whether to allow access
through the UI and may determine whether to allow STA1 1470 to
access AP2 410-2. In another example, AP2 410-2 may independently
determine whether to allow STA1 1470 to access AP2 410-2 without
receiving any input. Specifically, when the WLAN standard that can
be supported by STA1 1470 attempting to access AP2 410-2 belongs to
the specified condition on the basis of the information received
from API 410-1, AP2 410-2 may autonomously allow STA1 1470 to
access AP2 410-2 without displaying a notification message for a
user. When the WLAN standard that can be supported by STA1 1470
attempting to access AP2 410-2 belongs to the specified condition,
if there is no device (e.g., a high-speed device) that is currently
connected to AP2 410-2 and belongs to the specified condition, if
there are a small number of connected high-speed devices and thus
throughput loss of a device belonging to the specified condition is
relatively inconsiderable even though a device (e.g., a low-speed
device) not belonging to the specification condition is connected,
or if mobile stations currently connected to AP2 410-2 operate in a
sleep mode or require a low QoS level, AP2 410-2 may allow STA1
1470 attempting to connect to access AP2 410-2.
When AP2 410-2 determines to allow access of STA1 1470 in operation
1430, AP2 410-2 may transmit an access approval message to API
410-1 in operation 1440. Upon receiving the access approval
message, API 410-1 may register STA1 1470 in a blacklist of API
410-1 and may request AP2 410-2 to register STA1 1470 in a
whitelist of AP2 410-2. STA1 1470 may be connected to AP2 410-2
from AP1 410-1.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE
802.11n attempts a connection to a data-communication AP according
to various embodiments of the disclosure.
In operation 1510, a processor of a first AP (e.g., the AP 410 of
FIG. 7 or API 410-1 of FIG. 8) may receive a connection request to
the first AP from a mobile station (e.g., the electronic device 101
of FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA1 870 of FIG.
8) supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE 802.11n. For example, the
first AP may operate as a gatekeeper AP and can support IEEE
802.11b/g/n WLAN standards. The connection request may include
information about a WLAN standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11n) that the
mobile station can support.
In operation 1520, the processor of the first AP (e.g., the
gatekeeper AP) may accept the connection request from the mobile
station and may identify the maximum throughput that the mobile
station can support. For example, the processor of the first AP may
identify the WLAN standard that the mobile station can support from
the information included in the connection request from the mobile
station and accordingly may identify the maximum throughput that
the mobile station can support.
In operation 1530, the processor of the first AP may identify that
the mobile station supports the IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard and may
then control the mobile station to be connected to a second AP
(e.g., a data-communication AP). For example, the second AP (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 of FIG. 8) may operate as a
data-communication AP and may be activated to support the IEEE
802.11n WLAN standard. Since the second AP is a data-communication
AP and does not directly receive a connection request from any
mobile station, a cycle on which the second AP transmits a
management frame and/or a beacon frame may be set to be shorter
than that of the first AP. Since the mobile station attempting to
connect to the second AP supports the IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard
activated by the second AP, the second AP may establish a
connection with the mobile station without changing a configuration
to support a different version of the Wi-Fi protocols. To establish
a connection between the second AP and the mobile station, the
mobile station may be registered in a blacklist of the first AP and
in a whitelist of the second AP. When the mobile station supports
IEEE 802.11k/r/v Wi-Fi protocols, the mobile station may perform
disconnection and may establish a connection in a seamless manner
through roaming from the first AP to the second AP without
performing any additional authentication procedure.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a gatekeeper AP
and a data-communication AP may use the same credential information
and the same frequency band. In order that the gatekeeper AP and
the data-communication AP use the same credential information, one
of the gatekeeper AP and the data-communication AP may provide
credential information about a mobile station to the other AP. The
mobile station may recognize networks respectively provided by the
APs using the same credential information and the same frequency
band as the same network. When performing disconnection and
establishing a connection with respect to the APs, the mobile
station may be connected to a target AP without exchanging
additional credential information with the target AP. However, it
is shown as an example that the gatekeeper AP and the
data-communication AP use the same credential information and the
same frequency band, and the gatekeeper AP and the
data-communication AP may use different credential information and
frequency bands. For example, the data-communication AP may provide
a BSS using a higher frequency band than that of the gatekeeper AP
and may exchange additional credential information to establish a
new connection with a mobile station.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE
802.11g attempts a connection to a data-communication AP according
to various embodiments of the disclosure.
In operation 1610, a processor of a first AP (e.g., the AP 410 of
FIG. 7 or AP1 410-1 of FIG. 8) may receive a connection request to
the first AP from a mobile station (e.g., the electronic device 101
of FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA1 870 of FIG.
8) supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE 802.11g. For example, the
first AP may operate as a gatekeeper AP and can support IEEE
802.11b/g/n WLAN standards. The second AP (e.g., the AP 410 of FIG.
7 or AP2 410-2 of FIG. 8) may operate as a data-communication AP
and may be activated to support the IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard. A
cycle on which the second AP transmits a management frame and/or a
beacon frame may be set to be shorter than that of the first AP.
The connection request may include, for example, information about
a WLAN standard that the mobile station can support.
In operation 1620, the processor of the first AP may accept the
connection request from the mobile station and may identify the
maximum throughput that the mobile station can support. For
example, the processor of the first AP may identify the WLAN
standard that the mobile station can support from the information
included in the connection request from the mobile station and
accordingly may identify the maximum throughput that the mobile
station can support.
In operation 1630, the processor of the first AP may identify that
the mobile station supports the IEEE 802.11g WLAN standard and may
then notify an administrator device of the second AP that a mobile
station supporting a WLAN standard not belonging to a specified
condition attempts to access the second AP. The processor of the
first AP may have information about the WLAN standard activated by
the second AP and may compare the WLAN standard activated by the
second AP with the WLAN standard that the mobile station can
support. Although not shown, the administrator device may display a
message on a display in response to a notification of an attempt of
the mobile station to connect. The message may include information
about the WLAN standard of the mobile station that attempts to
connect, information indicating that a device not belonging to the
specified condition (e.g., a low-speed device) attempts to connect,
or a UI for receiving an input about whether to allow access.
In operation 1640, the processor of the first AP may determine
whether an access approval message is received from the
administrator device. For example, the administrator device (e.g.,
the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1, the electronic device 201 of
FIG. 2, or STA2 880 of FIG. 8) may receive an input to determine
whether to allow the access from a user or may autonomously
determine whether to allow the access. The administrator device may
transmit an access approval message to the first AP corresponding
to an approval for the access of the mobile station to the second
AP, and the first AP may receive the access approval message from
the administrator device.
When the access approval message is received from the administrator
device, the processor of the first AP may control the mobile
station to be connected to the second AP in operation 1650. To
establish a connection between the second AP and the mobile
station, the first AP may register the mobile station in a
blacklist of the first AP and in a whitelist of the second AP.
Further, to establish the connection between the second AP and the
mobile station, the first AP may request the second AP to change a
configuration so as to support the IEEE 802.11g WLAN standard. For
example, in response to a request from the first AP, the second AP,
in which only the IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard is activated, may
activate up to the IEEE 802.11g WLAN standard in order to exchange
data with the mobile station. When the mobile station supports IEEE
802.11k/r/v Wi-Fi protocols, the mobile station may establish a
connection and may perform disconnection in a seamless manner
through roaming from the first AP to the second AP without
performing any additional authentication procedure.
When no access approval message is received from the administrator
device, the first AP may maintain a connection with the mobile
station in operation 1660.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a
data-communication AP may exchange data with mobile stations
included in a BSS thereof. Since the mobile stations included in
the BBS may support different WLAN standards, a frame of a data
packet transmitted by the data-communication AP may include a
header for a plurality of WLAN standards so that the
data-communication AP exchanges data even with a mobile station
supporting a lower-version WLAN standard. For example, even when
the data-communication AP supports IEEE 802.11ac, a frame of a data
packet transmitted by the data-communication AP may include a
header for all WLAN standards (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ad) and a
payload in order to support backward compatibility with a lower
version.
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, when a
data-communication AP is activated to support only the IEEE 802.11n
WLAN standard, a frame of a data packet transmitted by the
data-communication AP may include only a header for the IEEE
802.11n WLAN standard (green field mode). According to one
embodiment, when the data-only AP, in which only the IEEE 802.11n
WLAN standard is activated, activates up to the IEEE 802.11g WLAN
standard, the data-communication AP may release the green field
mode and may include a header for a plurality of WLAN standards
including IEEE 802.11g in a frame of a transmitted data packet.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a gatekeeper
AP where a mobile station supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE
802.11b attempts a connection to a data-communication AP according
to various embodiments of the disclosure.
In operation 1710, a first AP (e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1
410-1 of FIG. 8) may receive a connection request to the first AP
from a mobile station (e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1,
the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA1 870 of FIG. 8)
supporting a WLAN standard of IEEE 802.11b. For example, the first
AP may operate as a gatekeeper AP and can support IEEE 802.11b/g/n
WLAN standards. The second AP may operate as a data-communication
AP and may be activated to support the IEEE 802.11n WLAN standard.
A cycle on which the second AP (e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2
410-2 of FIG. 8) transmits a management frame and/or a beacon frame
may be set to be shorter than that of the first AP. The connection
request may include information about a WLAN standard (e.g., IEEE
802.11b) that the mobile station can support.
In operation 1720, the first AP may accept the connection request
from the mobile station and may identify the maximum throughput
that the mobile station can support. For example, the first AP may
identify the WLAN standard that the mobile station can support from
the information included in the connection request from the mobile
station and accordingly may identify the maximum throughput that
the mobile station can support.
In operation 1730, the first AP may identify that the mobile
station supports the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard and may then notify
an administrator device of the second AP that a mobile station
supporting a WLAN standard not belonging to a specified condition
attempts to access the second AP. The first AP may have information
about the WLAN standard activated by the second AP and may compare
the WLAN standard activated by the second AP with the WLAN standard
that the mobile station can support. Although not shown, the
administrator device (e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1,
the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA2 880 of FIG. 8) may
display a message on a display in response to a notification of an
attempt of the mobile station to connect. The message may include
information about the WLAN standard of the mobile station that
attempts to connect, information indicating that a low-speed device
attempts to connect, or a UI for receiving an input about whether
to allow access.
In operation 1740, the first AP may determine whether an access
approval message is received from the administrator device. For
example, the administrator device may receive an input to determine
whether to allow the access or may independently determine whether
to allow the access. The administrator device may transmit an
access approval message to the first AP corresponding to an
approval for the access of the mobile station to the second AP. The
first AP may receive the access approval message from the
administrator device.
When the access approval message is received from the administrator
device, the first AP may control the mobile station to be connected
to the second AP in operation 1750. To establish a connection
between the second AP and the mobile station, the mobile station
may be registered in a blacklist of the first AP and in a whitelist
of the second AP. Further, to establish the connection between the
second AP and the mobile station, the first AP may request the
second AP to change a configuration so as to support the IEEE
802.11b WLAN standard. For example, in response to a request from
the first AP, the second AP, in which the IEEE 802.11n WLAN
standard is activated, may activate the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard
in order to exchange data with the mobile station. The second AP
may set a non-ERP present bit in an ERP information element in
order to establish a connection with the mobile station supporting
the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard and may change a cycle on which a
management frame and/or a beacon frame is transmitted in order to
transmit a management frame and/or a beacon frame according to a
cycle corresponding to the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard. When the
mobile station supports IEEE 802.11k/r/v Wi-Fi protocols, the
mobile station may perform disconnection and may establish a
connection in a seamless manner through roaming from the first AP
to the second AP without performing any additional authentication
procedure.
When no access approval message is received from the administrator
device, the mobile station may maintain a connection with the first
AP instead of connecting to the second AP in operation 1760.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a first AP
where a mobile station attempts a connection to a
data-communication AP in a high-frequency band (e.g., 5 GHz)
according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
In operation 1810, the first AP (e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1
410-1 of FIG. 8) may receive a connection request to the first AP
from a mobile station (e.g., the electronic device 101 of FIG. 1,
the electronic device 201 of FIG. 2, or STA1 870 of FIG. 8)
supporting IEEE 802.11a/n/ac WLAN standards. For example, the first
AP may operate as a gatekeeper AP and can support IEEE 802.11a/n/ac
WLAN standards. The connection request may include information
about a WLAN standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11a/n/ac) that the mobile
station can support.
In operation 1820, the first AP may accept the connection request
from the mobile station and may identify the maximum throughput
that the mobile station can support. For example, the first AP may
identify the WLAN standard that the mobile station can support from
the information included in the connection request from the mobile
station and accordingly may identify the maximum throughput that
the mobile station can support.
In operation 1830, the first AP may identify that the mobile
station supports the IEEE 802.11a/n/ac WLAN standards and may then
control the mobile station to be connected to a second AP (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 of FIG. 8). For example, the
second AP may operate as a data-communication AP and may be
activated to support the IEEE 802.11a/n/ac WLAN standards. Since
the second AP is a data-communication AP and does not directly
receive a connection request from a mobile station, a cycle on
which the second AP transmits a management frame and/or a beacon
frame may be set to be shorter than that of the first AP. Since the
mobile station attempting to connect to the second AP supports the
IEEE 802.11a/n/ac WLAN standards activated by the second AP, the
second AP may establish a connection with the mobile station
without changing a configuration to support a different version of
the Wi-Fi protocols. To establish a connection between the second
AP and the mobile station, the mobile station may be registered in
a blacklist of the first AP and in a whitelist of the second AP.
When the mobile station supports IEEE 802.11k/r/v Wi-Fi protocols,
the mobile station may perform disconnection and may establish a
connection in a seamless manner through roaming from the first AP
to the second AP without performing any additional authentication
procedure.
FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B schematically illustrate a signal transmitted
by each antenna of one AP when the AP operates a plurality of
BSSs.
Referring to FIG. 19A, a communication unit 740 of an AP 410 (e.g.,
the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1 410-1 of FIG. 8) may include a WLAN
chip 744 for a 5 GHz band or a WLAN chip 743 for a 2 GHz band. The
WLAN chip 744 and the WLAN chip 743 may support communication in
the 5 GHz band and communication in the 2 GHz band, respectively,
and may each manage a plurality of BSSs (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG.
4). For example, one WLAN chip 744 may manage a plurality of BSSs,
and one WLAN chip 743 may manage a plurality of BSSs.
According to one embodiment, in order to provide a plurality of
BSSs in the same band (2 GHz), the WLAN chip 744 may generate a
virtual interface in addition to an existing interface. The WLAN
chip 744 may assign a virtual MAC address to the generated virtual
interface. The WLAN chip 744 may transmit a signal including an
existing MAC address through the existing interface. The WLAN chip
744 may transmit a signal including the newly generated virtual MAC
address through the virtual interface. Since a BSS is distinguished
by an MAC address, the WLAN chip 744 may transmit signals including
different MAC addresses, thereby providing a plurality of BSSs. The
WLAN chip 743 may also provide a plurality of BSSs in the 5 GHz
band in a similar manner to that of the WLAN 744.
FIG. 19B illustrates frames for a plurality of BSSs scheduled in
each of a transmission buffer 1930 of the WLAN chip 744 and a
transmission buffer 1940 of the WLAN chip 743. Referring to FIG.
19B, frames for BSS1 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG. 4) and frames for
BSS2 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG. 4) may be scheduled in the
transmission buffer 1930 to be alternately transmitted. Frames for
BSS1 and frames for BSS2 may be scheduled in the transmission
buffer 1940 to be alternately transmitted. However, the scheduling
illustrated in FIG. 19B is provided for illustrative purposes, and
frames for BSS1 and BSS2 may be scheduled in each of the
transmission buffers 1930 and 1940 to be transmitted in any
order.
FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B schematically illustrate a signal transmitted
by each AP when each of a plurality of APs operates a BSS.
Referring to FIG. 20A, a communication unit 740-1 of AP1 410-1
(e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1 410-1 of FIG. 8) may include a
WLAN chip 744-1 for a 5 GHz band or a WLAN chip 743-1 for a 2 GHz
band. The WLAN chip 744-1 and the WLAN chip 743-1 may manage the
same BSS1 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG. 4) in the 5 GHz band and in
the 2 GHz band, respectively. For example, both the WLAN chip 744-1
and the WLN chip 743-1 may manage BBS1. A communication unit 740-2
of AP2 410-2 (e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2 of FIG. 8)
may include a WLAN chip 744-2 for a 5 GHz band or a WLAN chip 743-2
for a 2 GHz band. Both the WLAN chip 744-2 and the WLAN chip 743-2
may manage BBS2 (e.g., the BSS 400 in FIG. 4).
According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a wireless
connection may be established by a WDS between AP1 410-1 and AP2
410-2, and AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 may exchange information through
the WDS. For AP1 410-1 and AP2 410-2 to communicate through the
WDS, each of the WLAN chips 744-1, 743-1, 744-2, and 743-2 may
further manage BSS3 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG. 4) for the WDS. As
described in FIG. 19A, each of the WLAN chips 744-1, 743-1, 744-2,
and 743-2 may generate a virtual interface and may transmit a
signal including the MAC address of BSS3.
FIG. 20B illustrates frames for a plurality of BSSs scheduled in
transmission buffers 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060 of the respective
WLAN chips 744-1, 743-1, 744-2, and 743-2. Referring to FIG. 20B,
frames for BSS1 and frames for BSS3 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG. 4)
may be scheduled in transmission buffers 2030 and 2040 of AP1 410-1
(e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP1 410-1 of FIG. 8) to be
alternately transmitted. Frames for BSS2 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG.
4) and frames for BSS3 may be scheduled in transmission buffers
2050 and 2050 of AP2 410-2 (e.g., the AP 410 of FIG. 7 or AP2 410-2
of FIG. 8) to be alternately transmitted. However, the scheduling
illustrated in FIG. 20B is provided for illustrative purposes, and
frames for BSS1 (e.g., the BSS 400 of FIG. 4), BSS2, and BSS3 may
be scheduled in each of the transmission buffers 2030, 2040, 2050,
and 2060 to be transmitted in any order.
According to other embodiments of the disclosure, AP1 410-1 and AP2
410-2 may be connected in a wired manner. In this case, since AP1
410-1 and AP2 410-2 can use a wired connection for mutual
communication instead of a connection via a WDS, each of the WLAN
chips 744-1, 743-1, 744-2, and 743-2 does not need to manage BSS3.
Since the WLAN chips 744-1 and 743-1 may transmit only frames for
BSS1 and the WLAN chips 744-2 and 743-2 may transmit only frames
for BSS2, frames only for BSS1 may be scheduled in the transmission
buffers 2030 and 2040 and frames only for BSS2 may be scheduled in
the transmission buffers 2050 and 2060.
The term "module" used in the document may include a unit
consisting of hardware, software or firmware, and may be, for
example, used interchangeably with the term "logic", "logic block",
"component", "circuitry" or the like. The "module" may be an
integrally configured component or the minimum unit performing one
or more functions or a part thereof. The "module" may be
implemented mechanically or electronically, and may, for example,
include an
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